Increases in gonorrhoea incidence and GUM clinic waiting times: are we in a vicious circle like the late 1990s and early 2000s, but now exacerbated by drug resistance?

I read the paper of Foley et al (Inequalities in access to genitourinary medicine clinics in the UK: results from a mystery shopper survey. Sex Trans Infect Sex Online First: 04 April 2017) with concern. Delays in treating symptomatic patients typically indicate insufficient service capacity, creating a vicious circle where delayed (or lack of) treatment causes onward transmission, increasedincidence and continuing unmet treatment need.1 Increased treatment capacity (complemented by condom promotion and other prevention activity) is required to break the vicious circle and enter a virtuous circle where prompt treatment averts transmission and reduces future treatment need—improving health and ultimately saving money. This situation occurred from the late 1990s, when diagnoses and treatment delays increased markedly until investment was made to regain control. Foley et al’s findings, combined with increasing gonorrhoea diagnoses, suggest that we are in a vicious circle once again. However, this time it is much...

Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections - October 23, 2017 Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: White, P. J. Tags: Public health Clinical Source Type: research