HPR volume 15 issue 15: news (17 September)
Updated 19 January 2022
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Full annual STIs data for 2020 published
PHE has released its annual data on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and screening for chlamydia in England, together with a detailed commentary on the data, in the report Sexually transmitted infections and screening for chlamydia in England, 2020.
The report provides an overview of trends for all STIs in England and details the picture for gonorrhoea, syphilis, chlamydia, genital herpes and genital warts.
In 2020, there were 317,901 diagnoses of new STIs among England residents, a 32% decrease compared to 2019. The decline reflects a combination of reduced STI testing, as a result of disruption to sexual health services leading to fewer diagnoses, and changes in behaviour during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which may have reduced STI transmission.
Between 2019 and 2020, larger decreases in diagnoses were observed for STIs that are usually diagnosed clinically at a face-to-face consultation, such as first episode genital warts (46% – from 50,700 to 27,473) and first episode genital herpes (40% – from 34,279 to 20,530). The larger fall in genital warts also likely reflects the expected continuing decline in diagnoses since 2009 due to HPV vaccination.
Decreases in diagnoses of chlamydia (29% – from 229,213 to 161,672) and gonorrhoea (20% – from 70,922 to 57,084) were less pronounced, and diagnoses of infectious syphilis (primary, secondary and early latent stages) fell to a lesser extent (14% – from 8,011 to 6,926), as these infections could be diagnosed using self-sampling kits via internet consultations.
The full range of data and commentary for 2020 is provided on PHE’s annual STI and National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NSCP) data pages in the form of data tables and slide sets.
A 48-slide PowerPoint presentation is available, covering the above data releases, and also an infographic England STI and chlamydia screening in England infographic 2020, providing a single-page overview of main trends.
Refreshed data for HIV/STI indicators have been published at Sexual and Reproductive Health Profiles.
Invasive group A streptococcal infection outbreaks linked to home healthcare
A new report from PHE’s National Infection Service – the first to present detailed analysis of invasive group A streptococcal (iGAS) outbreaks associated with community health services delivered at home – has highlighted the challenges for public health professionals in managing such outbreaks.
The report follows a review of 10 outbreaks identified between January 2018 and September 2019 across England that involved 96 cases and 28 attributable deaths.
Outbreaks lasted up to 17 months with long intervals between cases commonly observed. Through interviews with chairs of incident management teams in PHE Health Protection Teams, the review identified key challenges in managing these outbreaks, including:
- delayed recognition of outbreaks
- difficulty in obtaining information from healthcare providers
- lack of occupational health support
- logistical challenges in arranging swabbing
- communication barriers
- resourcing to investigate outbreaks.
The review revealed the rise in such outbreaks and sets out a number of key recommendations for:
- PHE teams involved in managing or supporting these outbreaks
- commissioners of healthcare services
- providers of these services.
The report has been distributed to CCGs for onward distribution to home healthcare providers and to professional and regulatory groups (Care Quality Commission, Queen’s Nursing Institute, British Infection Association, Infection Prevention Society).
Microbiologists and Health Protection Teams are asked to remain vigilant for such outbreaks and review the recommendations enclosed in the report.
Infection report
Laboratory surveillance of candidaemia in England: 2020.