Using epidemiological and molecular methods to investigate an outbreak of gonorrhoea associated with heterosexual contact in Newcastle, NSW, Australia

Abstract

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 (ST225 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.