Cases Of Gonorrhea Research Articles

PENGARUH MANAJEMEN PROMOSI KESEHATAN DALAM MENINGKATKAN PENGETAHUAN KESEHATAN REPRODUKSI KADER POSYANDU DI DESA CIPANCUR KECAMATAN KALIMANGGIS KABUPATEN KUNINGAN

Reproductive health is a health program that is currently receiving special attention, both globally and nationally. One of the causes of the high maternal mortality rate and infant mortality rate is the number of cases of early marriage. Immature reproductive organs in adolescent girls can be at risk for various diseases such as cervical cancer, breast cancer, myoma and uterine cancer. The number of cases of sexually transmitted diseases each year has increased significantly. The incidence of STIs in Indonesia tends to increase overall. “Gonorrhoea, Syphilis” was recorded in 2011 as many as 11,280. Of these cases, there were 5,131 (45.4%) gonorrhea cases, 4725 (41.8%) syphilis cases. In 2012 there were an increase of 13,043 cases distributed as many as 6003 (46.0%) cases of gonorrhea, 5216 (40.0%) cases of syphilis. This study aims to determine the effect of health promotion management in increasing knowledge of reproductive health of posyandu cadres in Cipancur Village, Kalimanggis District, Kuningan Regency.:This type of research is a quasi-experimental with a pre-test and post-test only design. The population is posyandu cadres of 20 people. The sampling technique used purposive sampling method in the posyandu cadre group in Cipancur Village. The instrument to measure in this study was a questionnaire that was given before and after counseling. Data analysis used paired t test with confidence = 0.05. Based on the results of the analysis of the paired t test, it shows that there is an influence of health promotion management in increasing the knowledge of reproductive health of posyandu cadres with p=0.000. Based on these results, it can be concluded that there is an effect of health promotion management before and after reproductive health counseling on increasing knowledge on reproductive health of posyandu cadres. Researchers suggest that each cadre can convey knowledge to other communities so that other people can feel the results obtained by the cadres.

Surveillance and epidemiology of syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia in the non-European Union countries of the World Health Organization European Region, 2015 to 2020.

BackgroundEpidemics of sexually transmitted infections (STI) are a major public health challenge in the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region.AimWe aimed to provide an overview of case reporting and other surveillance data for syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia for the non-European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) countries of the Centre and East part of the WHO European Region as per classification used by the WHO Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.MethodsData were provided by the surveillance agencies of the Member States for the period 2015 to 2019 through the WHO/Europe Communicable Diseases Annual Reporting Form. We analysed reported cases, explored data reported to the WHO Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme (GASP) and performed a review of publications on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in gonorrhoea in the period 2015 to 2020 using systematic methodology.ResultsFrom 2015 to 2019, in most of the countries with three or more data points, there was a pattern of decrease in reported syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia cases, which is in contrast to the EU/EEA. The number of reported cases per 100,000 population was 0.4–26.5 for syphilis, 0–18.5 for gonorrhoea and 0–43.3 for chlamydia. Four countries reported recent data on AMR in gonorrhoea to GASP, and we identified further publications from Georgia, Russia and Ukraine.ConclusionWe found wide heterogeneity in reported rates of STI. There is a strong need to improve availability and quality of STI surveillance data in the non-EU/EEA countries.

Croyances associées à la participation à une activité de dépistage des infections transmissibles sexuellement et par le sang chez des élèves de 4e et 5e secondaire

Introduction: In Quebec, in recent years, a steady rise in cases of chlamydia and a rapid grow of cases of gonorrhoea among young people aged 15 to 24 years have been observed. Asymptomatic screening for sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI) is one way to prevent their spread. However, despite the accessibility of STBBI screening services, including in school settings, the participation rate of young people aged 15 to 24 remains modest. Objective: Using the Theory of Planned Behavior, identify beliefs that predict the intention of secondary 4 and 5 students to consult with the school nurse to participate in STBBI screening. Method: 294 students in Secondary 4 and 5 completed a self-administered questionnaire that included the constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior, in addition to the moral norm and the anticipated regret. Results: The results of the multiple regression analyses show that 5 beliefs are more related to the intention of youth to participate in an STBBI screening activity: "being reassured (if I don't have an STBBI)", "wasting my time", "the support of people important to me", "fear of having an STBBI" and "being shy". Discussion and conclusion: The results suggest that a communication strategy targeting 5 specific beliefs could increase the intention of the secondary 4 and 5 youth to participate in an STBBI screening activity.

Evaluating spatially adaptive guidelines for the treatment of gonorrhea to reduce the incidence of gonococcal infection and increase the effective lifespan of antibiotics.

In the absence of point-of-care gonorrhea diagnostics that report antibiotic susceptibility, gonorrhea treatment is empiric and determined by standardized guidelines. These guidelines are informed by estimates of resistance prevalence from national surveillance systems. We examined whether guidelines informed by local, rather than national, surveillance data could reduce the incidence of gonorrhea and increase the effective lifespan of antibiotics used in treatment guidelines. We used a transmission dynamic model of gonorrhea among men who have sex with men (MSM) in 16 U.S. metropolitan areas to determine whether spatially adaptive treatment guidelines based on local estimates of resistance prevalence can extend the effective lifespan of hypothetical antibiotics. The rate of gonorrhea cases in these metropolitan areas was 5,548 cases per 100,000 MSM in 2017. Under the current strategy of updating the treatment guideline when the prevalence of resistance exceeds 5%, we showed that spatially adaptive guidelines could reduce the annual rate of gonorrhea cases by 200 cases (95% uncertainty interval: 169, 232) per 100,000 MSM population while extending the use of a first-line antibiotic by 0.75 (0.55, 0.95) years. One potential strategy to reduce the incidence of gonorrhea while extending the effective lifespan of antibiotics is to inform treatment guidelines based on local, rather than national, resistance prevalence.

Surveillance for Disseminated Gonococcal Infections, Active Bacterial Core Surveillance (ABCs)-United States, 2015-2019.

Disseminated gonococcal infections (DGIs) are thought to be uncommon; surveillance is limited, and case reports are analyzed retrospectively or in case clusters. We describe the population-level burden of culture-confirmed DGIs through the Active Bacterial Core surveillance (ABCs) system. During 2015-2016, retrospective surveillance was conducted among residents in 2 ABCs areas and prospectively in 3 ABCs areas during 2017-2019. A DGI case was defined as isolation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from a normally sterile site. A case report form was completed for each case and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) was performed on available isolates. During 2015-2019, 77 DGI cases were identified (a rate of 0.13 cases per 100000 population) and accounted for 0.06% of all reported gonorrhea cases in the 3 surveillance areas. Most DGI cases were male (64%), non-Hispanic Black (68%), and ranged from 16 to 67 years of age; blood (55%) and joint (40%) were the most common sterile sites. Among 29 isolates with AST results during 2017-2019, all were susceptible to ceftriaxone. DGI is an infrequent complication of N gonorrhoeae; because it can quickly develop antimicrobial resistance, continued DGI surveillance, including monitoring trends in antimicrobial susceptibility, could help inform DGI treatment recommendations.

Disease Surveillance Among U.S.-Bound Immigrants and Refugees - Electronic Disease Notification System, United States, 2014-2019.

Disease Surveillance Among U.S.-Bound Immigrants and Refugees - Electronic Disease Notification System, United States, 2014-2019.

Epidemiological characteristics of gonorrhea and its influential meteorological factors: a 14-year retrospective assessment in China.

This study aimed to investigate the seasonal variation of gonorrhea in China, and to analyze the relationship between the incidence of gonorrhea and meteorological factors.Data from gonorrhea cases were obtained from the Disease Prevention and Control Bureau and the Data-Center for China Public Health Science, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the incidence of gonorrhea in China from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2019 was analyzed. Meteorological data from the same period were obtained from the South China Meteorological Data Sharing Center, including the average monthly temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, sunshine hours, number of rainy days,and precipitation. The ratio-to-moving average method and seasonal subseries plots were used to analyze the seasonality of gonorrhea cases. The distributed lag non-linear model and attribution risks were used to investigate the effects of meteorological indexes on gonorrhea cases.The number of gonorrhea cases showed seasonal variation, with a peak in the third quarter and a decline in the first quarter. The Spearman assay showed that the reported number of patients with gonorrhea was positively correlated with the monthly temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, and number of rainy days. The risk of gonorrhea onset was highest at 6-11°C, and the highest risk occurred when the average monthly temperature was 7°C (resulting in an increase of 14.5% compared with 13°C); a similar result was found regarding the cumulative risk of gonorrhea onset in relation to temperature. The attribution score of temperature to the onset of gonorrhea was 5.02% (95% confidence interval: - 3.84%, 13.88%).The study findings suggest that increased emphasis should be placed on screening for gonorrhea during summer and autumn, and that education on safe sexual behavior should be promoted during these times.

First National Genomic Epidemiological Study of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Strains Spreading Across Sweden in 2016.

The increasing transmission and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a global health concern with worrying trends of decreasing susceptibility to also the last-line extended-spectrum cephalosporin (ESC) ceftriaxone. A dramatic increase of reported gonorrhea cases has been observed in Sweden from 2016 and onward. The aim of the present study was to comprehensively investigate the genomic epidemiology of all cultured N. gonorrhoeae isolates in Sweden during 2016, in conjunction with phenotypic AMR and clinical and epidemiological data of patients. In total, 1279 isolates were examined. Etest and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) were performed, and epidemiological data obtained from the Public Health Agency of Sweden. Overall, 51.1%, 1.7%, and 1.3% resistance to ciprofloxacin, cefixime, and azithromycin, respectively, was found. No isolates were resistant to ceftriaxone, however, 9.3% of isolates showed a decreased susceptibility to ceftriaxone and 10.5% to cefixime. In total, 44 penA alleles were found of which six were mosaic (n = 92). Using the typing schemes of MLST, NG-MAST, and NG-STAR; 133, 422, and 280 sequence types, respectively, and 93 NG-STAR clonal complexes were found. The phylogenomic analysis revealed two main lineages (A and B) with lineage A divided into two main sublineages (A1 and A2). Resistance and decreased susceptibility to ESCs and azithromycin and associated AMR determinants, such as mosaic penA and mosaic mtrD, were predominantly found in sublineage A2. Resistance to cefixime and azithromycin was more prevalent among heterosexuals and MSM, respectively, and both were predominantly spread through domestic transmission. Continuous surveillance of the spread and evolution of N. gonorrhoeae, including phenotypic AMR testing and WGS, is essential for enhanced knowledge regarding the dynamic evolution of N. gonorrhoeae and gonorrhea epidemiology.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae physiology and pathogenesis.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is an obligate human pathogen that is the cause of the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhoea. Recently, there has been a surge in gonorrhoea cases that has been exacerbated by the rapid rise in gonococcal multidrug resistance to all useful antimicrobials resulting in this organism becoming a significant public health burden. Therefore, there is a clear and present need to understand the organism's biology through its physiology and pathogenesis to help develop new intervention strategies. The gonococcus initially colonises and adheres to host mucosal surfaces utilising a type IV pilus that helps with microcolony formation. Other adhesion strategies include the porin, PorB, and the phase variable outer membrane protein Opa. The gonococcus is able to subvert complement mediated killing and opsonisation by sialylation of its lipooligosaccharide and deploys a series of anti-phagocytic mechanisms. N. gonorrhoeae is a fastidious organism that is able to grow on a limited number of primary carbon sources such as glucose and lactate. The utilization of lactate by the gonococcus has been implicated in a number of pathogenicity mechanisms. The bacterium lives mainly in microaerobic environments and can grow both aerobically and anaerobically with the aid of nitrite. The gonococcus does not produce siderophores for scavenging iron but can utilize some produced by other bacteria, and it is able to successful chelate iron from host haem, transferrin and lactoferrin. The gonococcus is an incredibly versatile human pathogen; in the following chapter, we detail the intricate mechanisms used by the bacterium to invade and survive within the host.

Closing the Equity Gap: An Intervention to Improve Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Testing for Adolescents and Young Adults in Primary Care.

Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhea are the most reported sexually transmitted infections in the United States. Testing rates remain suboptimal and may be subject to implicit bias. We evaluated the effectiveness of an opt-out chlamydia and gonorrhea testing program for adolescents and young adults in improving testing rates and promoting equity. An opt-out testing program that standardized testing to once annually for 14 to 24-year-old patients was implemented across 28 federally qualified health centers spanning 4 specialties. A quasi-experimental design using interrupted time series analyses evaluated testing and infection rates between baseline, intervention, and pandemic-associated test shortage periods. Reduction in testing inequities based on sex, race, ethnicity, insurance, and language preference were also examined. A total of 57 452 encounters during the baseline, 17 320 during the intervention, and 26 993 during the test supply shortage periods were included. Testing increased from 66.8% to 81.0% (14.2% absolute increase) between baseline and intervention periods. Pediatric clinics demonstrated the largest improvement compared to other settings (absolute increase 30.9%). We found significant reductions in testing inequities for language preference (P < .001), and un-insured and public insured individuals (P < .001). More cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea were detected in the intervention period (chlamydia-29.7; gonorrhea-7.4 per 1000 patients) than in the baseline period (chlamydia-20.7; gonorrhea-4.4 per 1000 patients; P < .001). An opt-out approach increased testing, reduced inequities between some groups and detected more infections than a risk-based approach. Opt-out testing should be considered as an approach to increase detection of chlamydia and gonorrhea and promote equity.

In vitro study of potential antibacterial pometia pinnata leaf extract in Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Background: Gonorrhea cases experiencing antibiotic resistance are increasing due to inadequate treatment or failure to contribute to an increase in antibiotic resistance cases; WHO suggests adding herbal therapy treatment methods is expected to minimize the occurrence of drug resistance as much as possible. Previous studies that have been carried out using other herbal plants have not shown any potential to inhibit the growth of Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria, seen from the amount of extract concentration and the dosage and content of the compounds in the contents monitoring the time.Objective: To analyze the difference in the effect of various concentrations of Matoa Leafs Extract (Pometia Pinnata) compared to 500mg Levofloxacin on the increase in the growth inhibition of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.Methods: This is true-experimental research with a post-test-only control group with a randomized design. The sample in this study was the microorganism Neisseria gonorrhoeae obtained through vaginal swabs in 2 females (FSW) positive for Gonorrhea by gram staining and microscopic examination and culture on Chocolate Agar Plant (CAP) media. The culture was then suspended in CAP media. Matoa Leaf extract concentration of 100%, 80%, 60%, 40%, 20%, positive control with Levofloxacin 500 mg and negative control with distilled water with four replications and monitoring in 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, and 96 hours. Data analysis used Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney, and cohen's test. Result: Levofloxacin 500mg in inhibiting Neisseria Gonorrhoeae bacteria is very effective, and Matoa Leaf extracts 60% and 40% P=0,026 have a strong enough potential to inhibit the growth of Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria with the same potential strength. The cohen's test 1.4 effect the levofloxacin 500mg provides a significant influence inhibiting Neisseria Gonorrhoeae.Conclusion: Matoa Leaf extract 60%, and 40% have solid antibacterial potential, although not as strong as Levofloxacin 500mg.

Awareness and knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases among population in Georgia (epidemiological survey)

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), often known as sexually transmitteddiseases, are still a major public health concern across the world. According to WHO estimates, sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) have an annual incidence of 357 million cases among which chlamydia (131 million), gonorrhoea (78 million), syphilis (5.6 million) and trichomoniasis (143 million), half of those among young people aged 15—24. Every day, almost one million people worldwide develop an STI, and the majority of them are ignorant of their infection status, making them a source of infection for others. The frequency and consequences of this on the health and socioeconomic condition of whole nations, particularly African countries, have long been regarded as a serious emergency. The epidemiology of STIs, the history and physical findings, screening standards, and the overall approach to combat STIs are all covered in this article. Infections covered in terms of causation, epidemiology, and risk factors include gonorrhea, Chlamydia trachomatis, Trichomonas vaginalis, syphilis and trichomoniasis. For a variety of reasons, the worldwide illness burden represented by STI remains unclear. First, many STIs are asymptomatic; second, diagnostic procedures are unavailable in some of the most affected nations; and finally, surveillance systems are non-existent or very poor in many parts of the world. According to the World Health Organization, there were 340 million new cases of syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia infection, and trichomoniasis in 1999. In the European Union, there has been an increase in the incidence of gonorrhoea and syphilis in recent years. The survey instrument was an online self-administered anonymous questionnaire conducted in Georgia using Google survey software, which automatically populates and saves digital responses to a secure database protecting participant confidentiality throughout the surveying process. The survey was conducted in 2019. The opportunity to participate in the questionnaire was one-time. The question naire for this study was developed based on a review of literature.Health education, early diagnosis and treatment, screening for asymptomatic infections, contact inquiry, and immunization for illnesses for which a vaccine is available should all be used in STI prevention and control. In general, the studies reported low levels of knowledge and awareness of sexually transmitted diseases. Although, as shown by some of the findings on condom use, knowledge does not always translate into behavior change, adolescents’ sex education is important for STD prevention, and the school setting plays an important role.

1353. Gonorrhea and Chlamydia Testing and Case Rates Among Women Veterans in the Veterans Health Administration

BackgroundUnited States (US) rates of sexually transmitted infection (STI) in women, especially gonorrhea and chlamydia, have increased over the past decade. Women Veterans have many risk factors associated with STIs, including high rates of childhood sexual assault, military sexual trauma and intimate partner violence. Despite the availability of effective diagnostic tests and evidence-based guidelines for annual screening among sexually active women under age 25, screening rates for gonorrhea and chlamydia remain low in the US and among Veterans.MethodsWe performed a retrospective cohort study of all women Veterans in Veterans Health Administration (VHA) care between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2019 to examine patient characteristics and health system factors associated with gonorrhea and chlamydia testing and case rates among women Veterans in the VHA in 2019.ResultsAmong women under age 25, 21.3% were tested for gonorrhea or chlamydia in 2019. After adjusting for demographic and other health factors, predictors of testing in women under age 25 included Black race (aOR: 2.11 CI: 1.89, 2.36), rural residence (aOR: 0.84, CI: 0.74, 0.95), and cervical cancer screening (aOR: 5.05 CI: 4.59, 5.56). Women under age 25 had the highest infection rates, with an incidence of chlamydia and gonorrhea of 1,950 and 267 cases/100,000, respectively. Incidence of gonorrhea and chlamydia was higher for women with a history of military sexual trauma (MST) (Chlamydia case rate: 265, Gonorrhea case rate: 97/100,000) and those with mental health diagnoses (Chlamydia case rate: 263, Gonorrhea case rate: 72/100,000.) Over a third of chlamydia cases (35.2%) and gonorrhea cases (35.5%) occurred in women who resided in the South Atlantic census division. Chlamydia cases per 100,000 women Veterans seen in VHA (2019) Gonorrhea cases per 100,000 women Veterans seen in VHA (2019) ConclusionGonorrhea and chlamydia testing remains underutilized among women in the VHA and infection rates are high among younger women. Patient-centered, system-level interventions are urgently needed to address low testing rates. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

STI epidemic re-emergence, socio-epidemiological clusters characterisation and HIV coinfection in Catalonia, Spain, during 2017–2019: a retrospective population-based cohort study

ObjectivesTo describe the epidemiology of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), identify and characterise socio-epidemiological clusters and determine factors associated with HIV coinfection.DesignRetrospective population-based cohort.SettingCatalonia, Spain.Participants42 283 confirmed syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia and...

Electronic Messaging for Gonorrhea and Chlamydia Test Result Notification, Improving Treatment and Patient Satisfaction.

Approximately 20% of chlamydia (CT) and gonorrhea (GC) cases in Louisiana are diagnosed at Parish Health Units. Patient notification of CT and GC test results involves nurses' phone calls and letters to positive patients, which is time-consuming and inefficient. In December 2018, electronic results notification was implemented in Caddo Parish Health Unit using Chexout software to notify enrolled patients via text or email when test results are ready to view in a patient portal. We compared the timeliness of GC/CT results notification and treatment pre-Chexout (December 2017 to November 2018) and post-Chexout (December 2018 to November 2019) implementation. A random sample of patients was interviewed to assess acceptability. During December 2018 to November 2019, 5432 patients were tested for CT/GC, 3924 (72%) enrolled in Chexout, and notifications were sent to 3884 (99%). Among CT-positives, 472 of 568 (83%) viewed results in the portal compared with 2451 of 3356 (73%) CT-negatives. Among GC-positives, 300 of 353 (85%) viewed results compared with 2657 of 3571 (74%) GC-negatives. Treatment success for CT improved from 493 of 670 (74%) to 506 of 568 (89%), and for GC, from 332 of 409 (81%) to 325 of 353 (92%). Mean time to treatment decreased for CT (13.4-10.7 days) and GC (11.3-9.2 days). Enrolled patients found Chexout notification satisfactory in 168 of 169 (99%) and easy to use in 130 of 141 (92%). Reasons for declining electronic notification included lack of personal cell phone for 55 of 86 (64%) and confidentiality concerns for 42 of 86 (49%). Electronic messaging decreased time to notification and increased treatment success. Nurses spent less time notifying patients leaving more time for patient care.

Incidence, Reinfection, and Discrepancy Between Sexual Practice and Anatomic Site Positivity of Sexually Transmitted Infections in Youth With HIV.

This study aimed to determine the overall incidence and reinfection rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and the discrepancy between self-reported exposure history and anatomic site positivity of STIs among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with HIV in Atlanta, GA. Retrospective chart review was conducted on all patients 13-24 years of age at the Grady Ponce and Family Youth Clinic from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2018. Data were collected on patient demographics, self-reported sexual history and STI events. First STI incidence and incidence of reinfections were calculated by dividing new cases over corresponding person follow-up time. A total of 626 sexually active AYAs with HIV were included in analysis. The mean age at first observation was 18.9 (SD: ±2.8) years; 72% were male, 92% were Black and 80% were horizontally infected. The cumulative first STI incidence rate was 45.49 cases per 100 person-years, and the recurrent STI incidence rate was 119.86 cases per 100 person-years. Among all Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) cases, the most common site of infection was the rectum (48.6% and 49.6%, respectively). Disagreement between exposure history and presence of GC or CT infection was statistically significant for nearly all anatomic sites and types of intercourse. AYAs with HIV in Atlanta have disproportionately high first and recurrent incidence rates of STIs, with many patients not reporting exposure at their site of infection. There is considerable need to increase screening for STIs, including routine extragenital testing for GC and CT, among AYAs with HIV regardless of self-reported exposure history.

Sexually Transmitted Infections surveillance among the patient population in Belgian general practice

Abstract Background In Europe, prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) is continuously increasing. The Belgian public health institute ensures STI surveillance in general practices through the Sentinel General Practitioners (SGP) network. Between 2015 and 2020, the SGP reported cases for 5 STIs: chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis herpes and genital warts. The objective is the surveillance of STI in primary care. Methods General practitioners (GPs) report STI cases through the SGP network on a voluntary basis, using an online questionnaire. This questionnaire is developed in cooperation with STI experts, as well as a steering committee group composed of GPs and representatives of regional health agencies. Results In total 1009 cases were registered from 2015 until 2020 within the SGP network. 59.8% of patients consulting for STIs were men, of which 63.5% had exclusively heterosexual contacts and 24.8% are Men who have sex with Men (MSM). 91.8% of women had exclusively heterosexual contacts. Chlamydia was the most common STI (57.4%). Women are more likely to be diagnosed with chlamydia (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.1-2.2) and herpes (OR 1.7; 95% CI 1.0-2.9) than men. Men represented most of the gonorrhoea (79.77%) and syphilis (86.7%) cases. Having bi- or homosexual contacts increases the likelihood of getting gonorrhoea (OR 3.3; 95% CI 2.1-5.1) and syphilis (OR 13.7; 95% CI 7.4-25.3). Incidence of Chlamydia is estimated at 68.81/100000, and incidence of gonorrhoea at 21.11/100000 over 6 years. Conclusions We observe a slight increase in chlamydia and gonorrhoea incidence in the Belgian population over the study period. MSM are at higher risk of STI and represent an overwhelming proportion of syphilis cases. Being a woman is associated with higher risk of acquiring chlamydia and herpes infection. We recommend continuing prevention and awareness campaigns targeting high risk groups. Key messages MSM and women remain high-risk populations regarding STIs among the patient population of general practitioners. Continuous STI surveillance is necessary to monitor STI related healthcare needs and adapt prevention programs.

The Economic Consequences of Decriminalizing Sex Work in Washington, DC—A Conceptual Model

(1) Under repressive policies, sex workers are at disproportionate risk for violence and sexually transmitted infections. The decriminalization of sex work provides increased social and health benefits to both sex workers and society. This is the first research that complements human rights-based messages with a quantifiable economic impact of such a law and a model for future calculations. (2) This research assesses the potential economic consequences of decriminalizing sex work in the District of Columbia (DC) in three areas: (A) income tax revenue, (B) criminal justice system savings, and (C) health sector savings (due to averted cases of violence, HIV, gonorrhea, and herpes). (3) An economic model is developed and utilized based on data from a literature search and agency records. (4) Decriminalizing sex work in DC will generate USD5348.68 per sex worker and USD2.53 per client annually, plus USD20,118.48 in criminal justice system savings a year. Per sex worker, USD5058.08 will be gained from income tax revenue, and USD290.60 will be generated through health sector savings (USD274.65, 0.02, 15.64, and 0.29 from averted cases of violence, HIV, gonorrhea, and herpes, respectively). Per client, decriminalization will generate USD0.05, 2.32, and 0.16 from averted cases of HIV, gonorrhea, and herpes, respectively, or USD8462.35 annually, after considering the total number of clients. Estimates are reported in 2020 USD. (5) The potential economic impact of decriminalizing sex work is widespread. The presented model, in conjunction with a rights-based foundation, should urgently be used by advocates, sex workers, decision makers, and other researchers.

Social mobility and gonorrhoea in Germany during 2020

ObjectivesThe incidence of STIs is likely to be related to levels of social activity and mobility. Novel datasets detailing levels of social activity were made widely available during the COVID-19...

Trends in HIV prevalence by self-report among MSM diagnosed and reported with gonorrhea in six United States jurisdictions from 2010 to 2019.

HIV co-infection among persons diagnosed with gonorrhea is not well characterized. Trends in HIV prevalence among persons diagnosed with gonorrhea may have significant implications for HIV prevention interventions, especially for MSM. MSM are increasingly and disproportionately represented among incident gonorrhea cases reported in a multistate sentinel surveillance network. Using data from this network, we estimated HIV prevalence among MSM by self-report and explored trends in co-infection by key demographics. Observational study using enhanced surveillance data. Six geographically diverse jurisdictions in the STD Surveillance Network (SSuN) 2010-2019 randomly sampled laboratory-confirmed gonorrhea cases. Enhanced investigations on sampled cases included patient interviews eliciting demographic, behavioral and HIV testing history. These data were weighted to adjust for study design and nonresponse to estimate trends in HIV prevalence. Of 653 522 reported cases, 28 979 were sampled and investigated. The proportion of cases reporting living with diagnosed HIV at the time of their gonorrhea diagnosis increased 61% across the study period from 6.6% in 2010 to 10.8% in 2019. The observed increase in HIV prevalence is concurrent with an increase in the proportion of gonorrhea cases attributable to MSM. HIV prevalence among MSM decreased in two jurisdictions and increasing trends were observed among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic MSM. HIV prevalence decreased among non-Hispanic white MSM, MSM under 20 and those 40 years of age or older. Diagnosis with gonorrhea, especially among MSM, should be a sentinel event triggering screening for HIV, referral to high-impact HIV prevention interventions or to HIV primary care.