Register      Login
Sexual Health Sexual Health Society
Publishing on sexual health from the widest perspective
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Improving public health surveillance of chlamydia: analysis of population-level positivity trends

Nicola Stephens A B F , David Coleman C , Kelly A. Shaw D , Maree O’Sullivan E and Alison Venn B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Communicable Disease Epidemiology and Surveillance, Health Protection Branch, Department of Health and Human Services, 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, Vic. 3000, Australia.

B Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, Tas. 7000, Australia.

C Communicable Diseases Prevention Unit, Department of Health and Human Services, 25 Argyle Street, Hobart, Tas. 7000, Australia.

D Population Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 25 Argyle Street, Hobart, Tas. 7000, Australia.

E Gold Coast Health and Hospital Services, Queensland Health, 2019 Gold Coast Highway, Miami, Qld 4220, Australia.

F Corresponding author. Email: nicola.stephens@health.vic.gov.au

Sexual Health 12(4) 369-371 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH14201
Submitted: 24 October 2014  Accepted: 29 March 2015   Published: 9 June 2015

Abstract

Background: Chlamydia remains Australia’s most frequently notified communicable disease; however, interpretation of notification data is difficult without knowledge of testing practices. This study examined the value of reporting positivity trends. Methods: Tasmanian population-level chlamydia laboratory tests and notification data from 2001 to 2010 were compared. Results: Notifications, tests and positivity increased, most significantly in males and females aged 15–29 years. Conclusions: Analysis of chlamydia positivity trends can inform the development, monitoring and evaluation of prevention and control activities and improves the interpretation of notification trends. After allowing for testing effort, an increase in chlamydia infections in young people was found.


References

[1]  NNDSS Annual Report Writing Group. Australia’s notifiable disease status, 2011: annual report of the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System. 2011. Available online at: https://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/cda-surveil-nndss-2011-annual-report.htm [verified 14 April 2014].

[2]  Shaw K, Coleman D, O’Sullivan M, Stephens N. Public health policies and management strategies for genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection. Risk Manag Healthc Policy 2011; 4 57–65.
Public health policies and management strategies for genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22312228PubMed |

[3]  Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. Third national sexually transmissible infections strategy 2014–2017. Available online at: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/8DB875B386DC5672CA257BF0001E377D/$File/STI-Strategy2014-v3.pdf [verified 9 February 2015].

[4]  Ali H, Guy RJ, Fairley CK, Wand H, Chen MY, Dickson B, O’Connor CC, Marshall L, Grulich AE, Kaldor JM, Hellard ME, Donovan B. Understanding trends in genital Chlamydia trachomatis can benefit from enhanced surveillance: findings from Australia. Sex Transm Infect 2012; 88 552–7.
Understanding trends in genital Chlamydia trachomatis can benefit from enhanced surveillance: findings from Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22645390PubMed |

[5]  Goller JL, Guy RJ, Gold J, Lim MS, El-Hayek C, Stoove MA, Bergeri I, Fairley CK, Leslie DE, Clift P, White B, Hellard ME. Establishing a linked sentinel surveillance system for blood-borne viruses and sexually transmissible infections: methods, system attributes and early findings. Sex Health 2010; 7 425–33.
Establishing a linked sentinel surveillance system for blood-borne viruses and sexually transmissible infections: methods, system attributes and early findings.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21062582PubMed |

[6]  Ali H, Donovan B, Liu B, Hocking JS, Agius P, Ward J, Bourne C, Kaldor JM, Guy RJ. Chlamydia prevention indicators for Australia: review of the evidence from New South Wales. Sex Health 2012; 9 399–406.
Chlamydia prevention indicators for Australia: review of the evidence from New South Wales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22950949PubMed |

[7]  Schmutz C, Burki D, Frei R, Mausezahl-Feuz M, Mausezahl D. Testing for Chlamydia trachomatis: time trends in positivity rates in the canton of Basel-Stadt, Switzerland. Epidemiol Infect 2013; 141 1953–64.
Testing for Chlamydia trachomatis: time trends in positivity rates in the canton of Basel-Stadt, Switzerland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3s7ktVentQ%3D%3D&md5=32bb287fcc428731591099e7748d4e46CAS | 23158540PubMed |

[8]  Health Protection Agency. CTAD, chlamydia testing activity dataset 2013. Available online at: http://www.hpa.org.uk/sexualhealth/ctad [verified 15 April 2014].

[9]  Public Health England. Health protection report. 2013. Available online at: http://www.hpa.org.uk/hpr/archives/2013/hpr2313.pdf [verified 22 April 2014].

[10]  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually transmitted disease surveillance 2011. Division of ST Prevention, 2012. Available online at: http://www.cdc.gov/std/stats11/Surv2011.pdf [verified 7 December 2013].

[11]  Klovstad H, Aavitsland P. Chlamydia trachomatis infections in Norway, 1986 to 2006, surveillance data. Sex Transm Dis 2009; 36 17–21.
Chlamydia trachomatis infections in Norway, 1986 to 2006, surveillance data.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18923334PubMed |

[12]  Morgan J, Colonne C, Bell A. Trends of reported chlamydia infections and related complications in New Zealand, 1998–2008. Sex Health 2011; 8 412–8.
Trends of reported chlamydia infections and related complications in New Zealand, 1998–2008.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21851784PubMed |

[13]  Yeung AH, Temple-Smith M, Fairley CK, Vaisey AM, Guy R, Law MG, Low N, Bingham AL, Gunn J, Kaldor J, Donovan B, Hocking JS. Chlamydia prevalence in young attenders of rural and regional primary care services in Australia: a cross-sectional survey. Med J Aust 2014; 200 170–5.
Chlamydia prevalence in young attenders of rural and regional primary care services in Australia: a cross-sectional survey.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24528434PubMed |

[14]  Lewis D, Newton DC, Guy RJ, Ali H, Chen MY, Fairley CK, Hocking JS. The prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Australia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Infect Dis 2012; 12 113
The prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Australia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22583480PubMed |

[15]  Vodstrcil LA, Fairley CK, Fehler G, Leslie D, Walker J, Bradshaw CS, Hocking JS. Trends in chlamydia and gonorrhea positivity among heterosexual men and men who have sex with men attending a large urban sexual health service in Australia, 2002–2009. BMC Infect Dis 2011; 11 158
Trends in chlamydia and gonorrhea positivity among heterosexual men and men who have sex with men attending a large urban sexual health service in Australia, 2002–2009.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21639943PubMed |

[16]  O’Rourke KM, Fairley CK, Samaranayake A, Collignon P, Hocking JS. Trends in chlamydia positivity over time among women in Melbourne Australia, 2003 to 2007. Sex Transm Dis 2009; 36 763–7.
Trends in chlamydia positivity over time among women in Melbourne Australia, 2003 to 2007.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD1MjotVegtw%3D%3D&md5=921b40dfca1d143110b00cf19eb755d1CAS | 19801964PubMed |

[17]  Lim MS, El-Hayek C, Goller JL, Fairley CK, Nguyen PL, Hamilton RA, Henning DJ, McNamee KM, Hellard ME, Stoove MA. Trends in chlamydia positivity among heterosexual patients from the Victorian Primary Care Network for Sentinel Surveillance, 2007–2011. Med J Aust 2014; 200 166–9.
Trends in chlamydia positivity among heterosexual patients from the Victorian Primary Care Network for Sentinel Surveillance, 2007–2011.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24528433PubMed |

[18]  Tasmanian Legislation. Public Health Act 1997 (No. 86 of 1997). Hobart (AUST): State Government of Tasmania; 14 January 1998. Available online at: www.thelaw.tas.gov.au [verified 8 January 2009].

[19]  State Government of Tasmania. Personal Information Protection Act. 2004, Tasmania. Available online at: http://www.thelaw.tas.gov.au/tocview/index.w3p;cond=;doc_id=46%2B%2B2004%2BAT%40EN%2B20141004000000;histon=;prompt=;rec=;term [verified 8 January 2009].