Time trends in positive gonorrhoea diagnoses at the Christchurch Sexual Health Service (2012-2022): a data audit study.
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Date
2024-06-27
DOI
Open Access Location
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
CSIRO Publishing
Rights
(c) 2024 The Author/s
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Abstract
Background
Gonorrhoea infections and antimicrobial resistance are rising in many countries, particularly among men who have sex with men, and an increasing proportion of infection is detected at extragenital sites. This study assessed trends in gonorrhoea diagnoses and antibiotic resistance at a sexual health service in New Zealand that followed national guidelines for specimen collection.
Methods
Routinely-collected data from Canterbury Health Laboratories of specimens taken at the Christchurch Sexual Health Service 2012–2022 were audited. Descriptive results included the number of patient testing events positive for gonorrhoea per year and site of infection (extragenital/urogenital). Annual test-positivity was calculated (number of positive patient testing events divided by total number of testing events) and the Cochran-Armitage Test for Trend was used to assess whether there was an association between test-positivity and year.
Results
Of 52,789 patient testing events, 1467 (2.8%) were positive for gonorrhoea (81% male). Half (49.3%) of people (57.9% of males, 12.2% of females) with a gonorrhoea infection had an extragenital infection in the absence of a urogenital infection. The number of extragenital infections increased at a faster rate than urogenital among males. Test-positivity increased from 1.3% in 2012 to 5.8% in 2022 (P < 0.001). Antimicrobial resistance was identified in many isolates. Ciprofloxacin resistance was high, but there were no cases of ceftriaxone resistance.
Conclusions
This study highlights the importance of extragenital sampling and maintaining bacterial culture methods for accurate diagnosis and treatment. The observation that gonorrhoea positivity rate and antimicrobial resistance rates are rising in New Zealand calls for urgent action.
Description
Keywords
Humans, Gonorrhea, New Zealand, Male, Female, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Sexual Health, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Adult, Drug Resistance, Bacterial
Citation
Denison HJ, Creighton J, Douwes J, Coshall M, Young H. (2024). Time trends in positive gonorrhoea diagnoses at the Christchurch Sexual Health Service (2012-2022): a data audit study.. Sex Health. 21. Number 4. (pp. SH23182-).