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RESEARCH PAPER
Gonorrhoea in Poland in 2021
 
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Department of Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases and Surveillance, National Institute of Public Health NIH – National Research Institute, Polska
 
These authors had equal contribution to this work
 
 
Submission date: 2024-02-06
 
 
Acceptance date: 2024-02-12
 
 
Online publication date: 2024-04-10
 
 
Corresponding author
Karolina Zakrzewska   

Department of Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases and Surveillance, National Institute of Public Health NIH – National Research Institute, Warsaw, Polska
 
 
 
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ABSTRACT
Background: The incidence of gonorrhoea at the European level increased over 2012-2019, decreased in 2020, and then reached higher values in 2021 than in 2019. Objective: Analysis in the descriptive epidemiology scheme of gonorrhoea notification in surveillance in Poland in 2021 (being the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic). Material and methods: Case-base data from surveillance of gonorrhoea were used: confirmed case (meeting laboratory criteria), probable (meeting clinical criteria and contact with confirmed case) and possible (only in Poland - physician diagnosed gonorrhoea, no information available for proper classification). Statistic Poland data was used to calculate the indicators. Data on patients treated in dermatology-venereology clinics between 2019-2021 were taken from the Bulletins of the Ministry of Health. Results: The incidence of gonorrhoea in Poland in 2021 was only a fraction of recorded in the EU/EEA (0.74 vs. 13.7/100000)-similar to the first pandemic year and were about half of those notified in the 2019 (the peak year; 281 vs. 522 cases). There were 15.5 men per one female (incidence: 1.6/100000 men, 0.1/100000 women). Every second case was among aged 25-34 (49.62%), every fourth-aged 35-44 (23.11%). Under 15, no cases were reported. The predominant site was the genitourinary (excluding missing data: 85.3%). The cases with missing information on transmision increased (49.1%; aged 45+: 72.0%, women: 76.5%). Delays in reporting data were identified (greater than in 2019, however, less than in 2020), ~17% cases were from 2019-2020. Dermatology-venerology clinics treated 385 people - less than in 2020, however, more than reported in epidemiological surveillance (vs. 281). Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced on the surveillance system in Poland. There are difficulties in interpreting the epidemiological trend. It is necessary to: 1) intensify systemic solutions in the area of prevention, including sexual partners; 2) raise the awareness of healthcare professionals and sanitary inspection workers on the role of collecting epidemiological information.
eISSN:2545-1898
ISSN:0033-2100
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