Using epidemiological and molecular methods to investigate an outbreak of gonorrhoea associated with heterosexual contact in Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
BACKGROUND
We report a cluster of gonorrhoea among mainly heterosexual men that occurred in October 2005, which was first identified when routine weekly surveillance review procedures indicated a three-fold increase in reporting rates compared with historical data.


METHODS
Each case was followed up with the treating medical officer to review treatment regimes and risk exposures, and to carry out enhanced contact tracing. The phenotype and genotype of the outbreak gonococcal isolates and gonococci prevalent in the months preceding and following the cluster were determined. Links between cases reported from the local Sexual Health Clinic and those reported by general practitioners were established.


RESULTS
Laboratory data indicated that a particular gonococcal subtype (ST 225 and NR/Brpyst) was prevalent during the outbreak.


CONCLUSIONS
Gonorrhoea rates returned to pre-outbreak levels following a targeted health promotion intervention with no further cases of the outbreak subtype detected.
Todd
Kerry
K
Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service, NSW 2305, Australia. kerry.todd@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au
Durrheim
David
D
Pickles
Robert
R
Eastwood
Keith
K
Merritt
Tony
T
Tapsall
John
J
Ray
Sanghamitra
S
Limnios
Athena
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012621:Seasons; D012703:Serotyping; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012747:Sexual Partners
D004269:DNA, Bacterial