title: Sexually transmitted infections case notification rates in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2005-2012.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are major public health concerns around the world. This study describes the epidemiology of reported STI cases from 2005 to 2012 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The annual registry was the main source of data as reported by healthcare providers. Case definitions were based on positive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibodies detectable by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and confirmed by western blot test for HIV cases. The definitions of other STIs were based on published Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) definitions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period, 68,886 new cases were reported, with nongonococcal urethritis being the highest STI (25.4) per 100,000 population (25.4), followed by trichomoniasis (9.1), HIV (7), human papillomavirus (HPV) infection (2.9), and syphilis (1.3). The cases included nongonococcal urethritis (n = 35,613; 51.7%), trichomoniasis (n = 12,679; 18.4%), gonococcal urethritis (n = 3,006; 4.4%), syphilis (n = 1,769; 2.6%), HIV (n = 9,843; 14.3%), genital warts (n = 4,018; 5.8%), genital herpes (n = 1,508; 2.2%), and chancroid (n = 450; 0.7%). Saudi contribution to HIV cases increased from 28.9% in the preceding decade to 43.5% in the current study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nongonococcal urethritis, trichomoniasis, and HIV were the most commonly reported STIs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors: College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. zmemish@yahoo.com.
authors: Ziad A
authors: ZA
authors: Memish
authors: Sanaa M
authors: SM
authors: Filemban
authors: Raafat F
authors: RF
authors: Al-Hakeem
authors: Majdy H
authors: MH
authors: Hassan
authors: Jaffar A
authors: JA
authors: Al-Tawfiq
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018563:Disease Notification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult