Epidemiologic aspects of male gonococcal infection in Greece

Objective: To report male gonorrhea incidence trends between the years 1974 and 1996 and compare the epidemiologic characteristics of the affected pop ulation during periods of high and low incidence of the disease. Study Design: Retrospective study of all available data for male gonorrhea cases recorded annually in a major STD hospital in Greece since 1974, Results: An abrupt drop in gonorrhea relative incidence occurred in 1986, f ollowed by low rates thereafter. In the context of the overall decline in t he incidence of the disease, a shift to older ages, longer time elapsed bef ore seeking medical assistance, and higher proportion of disease repeaters was noticed among the patients, Infections caused by penicillinase-producin g gonococci were strongly associated with contacts outside the country or w ith foreigners and their incidence presented erratic time fluctuations, ind icating that they have not been established as endemic in the Greek populat ion. Conclusion: The core group hypothesis in terms of nighttime sociosexual act ivity can be used to interpret most of the findings.