Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
6
pubmed:dateCreated
2007-7-4
pubmed:abstractText
Since the late 1990s, there has been a resurgence of infectious syphilis, with notable outbreaks in Brighton, Manchester, London and Dublin, predominantly among men who have sex with men (MSM). We report a similar outbreak in Northern Ireland. Genitourinary (GU) medicine clinic attendees were assessed from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2005 to identify those who met the agreed criteria for primary, secondary or early latent syphilis. In total, 161 individuals were diagnosed with syphilis and 121 were MSM. Sixteen individuals indicated a contact in Dublin as the likely source of infection. Thirty were identified through contact tracing. Over half contracted the infection through oral intercourse. Most (106) had one or two partners in the previous three months. Twelve cases were HIV positive (nine were aware of their status at the time of presumed infection). In conclusion, initially, cases acquired their infection in Dublin and, as the outbreak gained momentum, syphilis was contracted within Northern Ireland. The cohort was not generally associated with a high number of sexual contacts, multiple anonymous partners or specific locations. The challenge is to educate both patients and health-care professionals to sexual health issues; specifically, the risk associated with casual oral sex by MSM.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jun
pubmed:issn
0956-4624
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
18
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
413-7
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2007
pubmed:articleTitle
The syphilis outbreak in Northern Ireland.
pubmed:affiliation
Royal Victoria Hospital, Grosvenor Road, Belfast BT12 6BA, UK. carolemerson15@hotmail.com
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article