Gonococcal Infection 01/01/01 - 31/03/01
Between 1 January and 31 March 2001, 86
cases of gonococcal infection were notified to STD Services (Table 5.1).
This compares with a range of 43 to 78 infections for the first quarter
during the years 1996 to 2000. A slight increase in the number of
notifications received for Caucasian persons is noted (39 cases compared
to 19-31 cases for the same period since 1997). The reported infections
for 2001 include one case of gonococcal septic arthritis.
Fifty-five cases (64%) occurred in
males, and 31 (36%) in females (Table 5.1). Gonococcal
infection in males occurred in a wide age range with 26 cases (47%)
occurring in 25-34 year old men. In females, 74 % of cases occurred in
women aged between 20 and 34 years (Table 5.1).
The racial origin was reported as
Aboriginal for 24 female cases (77%). In males, 18 cases (33%) were
Aboriginal and 34 (62%) were Caucasian. The proportion of males with
gonococcal infection reporting male-to-male sexual contact was 42%.
Thirty-five cases (41%) were reported
amongst residents of South Australian communities in Central Australia. Of
the remaining 51 cases, the majority (71%) acquired infection in South
Australia with 9 cases (18%) acquired overseas.
Table 5.1 Gonococcal infection
detected in South Australia, 01/01/01 -
31/03/01. Age group by sex.
|
Age group (years) |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
< 20 |
5 |
4 |
9 |
|
20 - 24 |
7 |
8 |
15 |
|
25 - 29 |
12 |
8 |
20 |
|
30 - 34 |
14 |
7 |
21 |
|
35 - 39 |
9 |
3 |
12 |
|
> 40 |
8 |
1 |
9 |
|
Total |
55 |
31 |
86 |
|
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