Document 0339
 DOCN  M9590339
 TI    Recent developments in national STD surveillance in Australia.
 DT    9509
 AU    Rowbottom J; NCHECR, Darlinghurst, NSW.
 SO    Annu Conf Australas Soc HIV Med. 1994 Nov 3-6;6:159 (unnumbered
       abstract). Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ASHM6/95291760
 AB    INTRODUCTION: Monitoring of STD, other than HIV, is important in its own
       right, and provides information on sexual practices which may represent
       risk of HIV transmission. Additionally, some genital infections increase
       the risk of HIV transmission. A project to improve Australian
       surveillance for STD commenced in 1992. METHODS: National initiatives in
       STD surveillance were (1) Sentinel Surveillance in Sexual Health Clinics
       (1/7/92-31/3/94) (2) Sentinel General Practices (ASPREN) (1992-1994) (3)
       Commonwealth STD notifications (from the National Notifiable Diseases
       Surveillance, NNDS, 1992) RESULTS: Sexual Health Clinics: Gonorrhoea was
       diagnosed in 378 people in the course of 190,238 attendances at 16
       clinics. Of the 315 cases of gonorrhoea in men, homosexual contact was
       reported for 154 representing the most frequent single risk exposure for
       infection. Among the 63 women diagnosed with gonorrhoea during the same
       study period, 30 reported heterosexual contact only, and 29 were sex
       workers. For early syphilis, 54 male cases and 39 female cases,
       heterosexual contact was the highest risk factor. The rate of primary
       genital herpes was 8/1,000 clinic attendances. SENTINEL GENERAL
       PRACTICES: 104 general practitioners recorded a rate of first diagnosed
       genital herpes of 0.6/1,000 consultations, and a rate of STD related
       symptoms of 3/1,000 consultations. COMMONWEALTH NNDS: The STD reportable
       to the NNDS nationally are gonorrhoea, syphilis and hepatitis B. Among
       2908 notifications of gonorrhoea, the male:female ratio was 2.6:1. For
       2694 cases of syphilis, the male:female ratio was 1.1:1. For both men
       and women, most gonorrhoea diagnosed was in the age group 20-24, as it
       was for male syphilis. For syphilis in women, most was diagnosed in the
       15-19 year age group. The NNDS has endorsed a proposal to report
       exposure categories in future. CONCLUSION: Further development of
       complementary surveillance systems will provide a more complete
       description of STD in Australia.
 DE    Adolescence  Adult  Australia  Female  Gonorrhea/EPIDEMIOLOGY/PREVENTION
       & CONTROL/TRANSMISSION  Human  HIV Infections/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/PREVENTION &
       CONTROL/TRANSMISSION  Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice  Male
       Prostitution/STATISTICS & NUMER DATA  Risk Factors  *Sentinel
       Surveillance  Sexually Transmitted Diseases/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/PREVENTION &
       CONTROL/  TRANSMISSION  Syphilis/EPIDEMIOLOGY/PREVENTION &
       CONTROL/TRANSMISSION  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).