title: [Gonococcal infection related hospital admissions in Madrid: 1997-2006].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Gonorrhoea is one of the most frequent sexually transmitted diseases in the world. It is a serious problem due to its morbidity, complications and associated sequelae. This study aims to estimate the frequency of hospitalisations due to gonococcal infection in Madrid between 1997 and 2006.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective epidemiological study was performed using data from the National Epidemiological Surveillance System for hospital data (Minimum Basic Data Set, [MBDS]). All hospitalisations related to gonococcal infection in Madrid were analysed. Information on hospitalisation rates, mortality, fatality and stay were obtained and gathered by year, sex and age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During this study period, 113 hospitalisations related to gonococcal infection were recorded (Spanish Version of the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification: ICD-9-CM codes 098.0 and 098.89, any diagnostic position) representing a hospitalisation rate of 0.21 per 100,000, mortality rate of 0.02 per 100,000 people and case-fatality rate of 9.73%. An increased rate of hospitalisation in children up to 4 years and adults older than 65 years was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The hospitalisation rate in patients with gonococcal infection has decreased in recent years, but it is important to continue with existing public health and control policies and create new ones to reduce these figures.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Madrid, España. mc.ariza@alumnos.urjc.es
authors.forename: María Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ariza-Mejía
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: García-García
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alvaro-Meca
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gil-de-Miguel
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gil-Prieto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain; D014504:Urban Health