21. GONORRHOEA INFECTION IN SYDNEY WOMEN

Abstract

Background: Gonorrhoea is associated with undesirable reproductive health outcomes in women including pelvic inflammatory disease and tubal factor infertility. However there is low prevalence in the general community and some authors have suggested that only those women with risk factors should be tested. But can we predict who will have a positive gonorrhoea result?

Methods: A retrospective, case controlled, study was undertaken in an inner Sydney public Sexual Health clinic between January 2000 and December 2005. Cases were all women with culture proven cervical n.gonorrheoea infection in the time period. These were case matched with subsequent women with a negative gonorrhoea culture test. Variables examined included demographics, sex worker status, country of birth, injecting drug use (IDU) status, presence of symptoms and concurrent STIs.

Results: There were 40 women who were n.gonorrhoea culture positive during the study period and 27 cases and 23 controls reported any genital symptoms. (what were the confidence intervals?) The relative risk of having gonorrhoea if discharge was described was 1.75 (p < 0.05). The cases had a high rate of concurrent STI including chlamydia.

Conclusions: The only significant predictor of gonorrhoea in this group was the symptom of vaginal discharge. Thus in our clinic population behaviour, demographic data or cannot be used to determine who gets tested for gonorrhoea.