GONORRHEA IN COVENTRY 1991-1994 - EPIDEMIOLOGY, COINFECTION AND EVALUATION OF PARTNER NOTIFICATION IN THE STD CLINIC

The aim of this study is to analyse the epidemiology of gonorrhoea in the Coventry area between 1991-1994 and the implementation and outcome of partner notification. A total of 404 episodes in 382 patients comp rised the study group. in Coventry, 97% of episodes were managed in th e STD clinic. There was a decrease in female and heterosexual male cas es from 172 cases in 1991 to 37 cases in 1994 and increase in homosexu al male cases from 8 in 1991 to 13 in 1994 (P<0.0001). Chlamydial coin fection was found in 38%. Among patients with gonorrhoea, 33% were asy mptomatic and 40% with gonorrhoea and chlamydia were asymptomatic. Ten per cent of index cases were asymptomatic as were 83% of contact case s (P<0.0001). The health advisers (HAs) interviewed 82% immediately an d 94% at some time after diagnosis. Of the average 1.5 partners per pa tient identified, 0.31 partners per patient were already screened, ano ther 0.4 partners per patient were traced, 0.37 partners per patient w ere not traced, and for 0.41 partners per patient notification outcome was unknown or unconfirmed. Partner notification of 278 index cases t raced 163 primary or tertiary contacts, 115 were new cases of gonorrho ea.