The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Variations in the epidemiology of primary, secondary and early latent syphilis, England and Wales: 1999 to 2008

Variations in the epidemiology of primary, secondary and early latent syphilis, England and Wales: 1999 to 2008
Variations in the epidemiology of primary, secondary and early latent syphilis, England and Wales: 1999 to 2008
Objective To investigate factors associated with variations in diagnoses of primary, secondary and early latent syphilis in England and Wales.

Methods Data were derived from two sources: diagnoses made in genitourinary medicine clinics reported on form KC60, and information collected through National Enhanced Syphilis Surveillance (NESS). Multinomial regression modelling was used for data analysis.

Results Between 1999 and 2008, 12?021 NESS reports were received, 54% of KC60 reports. The dominant profile of the epidemic was one of white men who have sex with men aged 35–44, often co-infected with HIV, centred in larger cities. During this period, the proportion of primary cases increased over time, while the proportion of secondary cases fell. Primary cases exceeded secondary cases by 2004. The proportion of early latent cases remained relatively stable over time and tended to be lower than that of primary and secondary infection. Patients who attended because they had symptoms of infection, had been identified through partner notification, were HIV positive, and were UK born were more likely to present with primary or secondary infection than with early latent infection. A higher proportion of early latent cases were seen among patients who were Asian, had contacted sexual partners through saunas, bars and the internet, had untraceable partners, and had acquired infection in Manchester.

Conclusions The continuing syphilis epidemic indicates that control has only been partially effective, with ongoing transmission being sustained. Intensive and targeted efforts delivered locally are required to interrupt further transmission.
1368-4973
Jebbari, Heather
1ebe673d-b78c-4d3e-b815-847f6f0687d6
Simms, Ian
8ed59245-4d3d-4d52-bb31-55240c853423
Conti, Stefano
1450dd1f-1588-4a2d-bde8-61595ece1440
Marongiu, Andrea
fa599b06-2ed5-49b1-a763-8e4ddf069f2f
Hughes, Gwenda
37c08eef-49d7-4bf4-a06a-dfaa7ad05390
Ward, Helen
dd700fa5-647f-4916-aa50-6c0b3026f961
Powers, Cassandra
b8f0a12a-d192-469a-b95c-7ddd164dc8ea
Thomas, Daniel Rh.
8e7e9e50-9fcc-4536-b7a2-5e19090d6c2a
Evans, Barry
0debca3a-46b7-4f32-bfe1-f62e0bfda926
Jebbari, Heather
1ebe673d-b78c-4d3e-b815-847f6f0687d6
Simms, Ian
8ed59245-4d3d-4d52-bb31-55240c853423
Conti, Stefano
1450dd1f-1588-4a2d-bde8-61595ece1440
Marongiu, Andrea
fa599b06-2ed5-49b1-a763-8e4ddf069f2f
Hughes, Gwenda
37c08eef-49d7-4bf4-a06a-dfaa7ad05390
Ward, Helen
dd700fa5-647f-4916-aa50-6c0b3026f961
Powers, Cassandra
b8f0a12a-d192-469a-b95c-7ddd164dc8ea
Thomas, Daniel Rh.
8e7e9e50-9fcc-4536-b7a2-5e19090d6c2a
Evans, Barry
0debca3a-46b7-4f32-bfe1-f62e0bfda926

Jebbari, Heather, Simms, Ian, Conti, Stefano, Marongiu, Andrea, Hughes, Gwenda, Ward, Helen, Powers, Cassandra, Thomas, Daniel Rh. and Evans, Barry (2011) Variations in the epidemiology of primary, secondary and early latent syphilis, England and Wales: 1999 to 2008. Sexually Transmitted Infections. (doi:10.1136/sti.2009.040139). (PMID:21262786)

Record type: Article

Abstract

Objective To investigate factors associated with variations in diagnoses of primary, secondary and early latent syphilis in England and Wales.

Methods Data were derived from two sources: diagnoses made in genitourinary medicine clinics reported on form KC60, and information collected through National Enhanced Syphilis Surveillance (NESS). Multinomial regression modelling was used for data analysis.

Results Between 1999 and 2008, 12?021 NESS reports were received, 54% of KC60 reports. The dominant profile of the epidemic was one of white men who have sex with men aged 35–44, often co-infected with HIV, centred in larger cities. During this period, the proportion of primary cases increased over time, while the proportion of secondary cases fell. Primary cases exceeded secondary cases by 2004. The proportion of early latent cases remained relatively stable over time and tended to be lower than that of primary and secondary infection. Patients who attended because they had symptoms of infection, had been identified through partner notification, were HIV positive, and were UK born were more likely to present with primary or secondary infection than with early latent infection. A higher proportion of early latent cases were seen among patients who were Asian, had contacted sexual partners through saunas, bars and the internet, had untraceable partners, and had acquired infection in Manchester.

Conclusions The continuing syphilis epidemic indicates that control has only been partially effective, with ongoing transmission being sustained. Intensive and targeted efforts delivered locally are required to interrupt further transmission.

Text
endnote.pdf - Other
Restricted to Repository staff only
Request a copy

More information

e-pub ahead of print date: 24 January 2011
Organisations: Faculty of Health Sciences

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 351004
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/351004
ISSN: 1368-4973
PURE UUID: e0859299-9466-4b18-bb01-210f04062ee4

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 12 Apr 2013 11:51
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 13:34

Export record

Altmetrics

Contributors

Author: Heather Jebbari
Author: Ian Simms
Author: Stefano Conti
Author: Andrea Marongiu
Author: Gwenda Hughes
Author: Helen Ward
Author: Cassandra Powers
Author: Daniel Rh. Thomas
Author: Barry Evans

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×