Adherence, Sexual Behavior and Sexually Transmitted Infections in a New Zealand Prospective PrEP Cohort: 12 Months Follow-up and Ethnic Disparities.

Inequities in pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) experiences will impede HIV epidemic elimination among gay and bisexual men (GBM). Ethnicity is a strong marker of inequity in the United States, but evidence from other countries is lacking. We investigated experiences on-PrEP to 12 months follow-up in a prospective cohort of 150 GBM in Auckland, New Zealand with an equity quota of 50% non-Europeans. Retention at 12 months was 85.9%, lower among Maori/Pacific (75.6%) than non-Maori/Pacific participants (90.1%). Missed pills increased over time and were higher among Maori/Pacific. PrEP breaks increased, by 12 months 35.7% of Maori/Pacific and 15.7% of non-Maori/Pacific participants had done so. Condomless receptive anal intercourse partners were stable over time. STIs were common but chlamydia declined; 12-month incidence was 8.7% for syphilis, 36.0% gonorrhoea, 46.0% chlamydia, 44.7% rectal STI, 64.0% any STI. Structural interventions and delivery innovations are needed to ensure ethnic minority GBM gain equal benefit from PrEP.Clinical trial number ACTRN12616001387415.

Time for another review: following implementation of a new service model for Auckland Sexual Health service there has been an increase in referrals, case complexity and clinical workload but regional inequities in access remain.

AIMS: A review of the Auckland Sexual Health regional service in 2014 resulted in new criteria for access, and redundancy of two sexual health physicians. The aim of this audit was to review the impact of the review on operating volumes, referrals and case complexity. METHODS: Secondary care referrals to the service were audited over three 12-month periods and were compared to the total volumes of first specialist assessments during the same periods following implementation of the new service model. RESULTS: Numbers of secondary referrals nearly doubled from 1,218 referrals in 2017 to 2,036 in 2021. Auckland (40%) and Waitemata (31%) District Health Boards accounted for a much greater proportion of secondary referrals than Counties Manukau (22%). This was similar for self-referrals, with only 17% coming from Counties Manukau. The biggest increases in secondary referrals were for virtual specialist advice (500%) and for gender-affirming treatment (220%). DISCUSSION: The Auckland sexual health review has resulted in an increase in case complexity and in workload of all staff, including specialists, but has not addressed regional inequities in service access or provision. Provision of gender-affirming care has resulted in greatly increased demand for service. Service delivery and workforce require a review to guide commissioning of sexual health and gender-affirming healthcare in the region.

NZPrEP Demonstration Project: protocol for an open-label, single-arm trial of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to determine feasibility, acceptability, adverse and behavioural effects of PrEP provision to gay and bisexual men in publicly funded sexual health clinics in Auckland, New Zealand.

INTRODUCTION: New Zealand has experienced a rise in HIV diagnoses in recent years and new interventions are required to address this. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: NZPrEP (A demonstration project of HIV preexposure prophylaxis in Aotearoa New Zealand) is an open-label, single-arm treatment evaluation study to investigate feasibility, retention, adherence, and clinical and behavioural outcomes of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) provision to gay and bisexual men (GBM) in a publicly funded secondary sexual health service in Auckland, New Zealand. The sample size is 150 GBM. Inclusion criteria were specific behavioural risk factors indicating an increased risk of HIV infection. Exclusion criteria were hepatitis B infection, any medical contraindications to prescribing tenofovir/emtricitabine or factors limiting ability to adhere to the study protocol. Eligible participants will be screened for HIV and other sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and for any medical contraindications to PrEP, and enrolled for a maximum follow-up period of 96 weeks. They will be required to attend for 3-monthly testing for HIV and STIs and monitoring for renal and liver toxicity. Participants will also be required to complete an online behavioural survey after each study visit. The outcomes of interest are feasibility of PrEP provision in a sexual health clinic setting, PrEP acceptability, and adverse medical and behavioural effects of PrEP. The study sample is limited to 150 participants due to funding and service constraints. Statistical analysis of all primary and secondary outcomes will be performed using Stata V.14 at the University of Auckland. Results for primary and secondary endpoints will be reported after the conclusion of the study in March 2019. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study was approved by the Health and Disability Ethics Committee on 15 September 2016 (16/NTA/112). Key findings will be submitted to peer-reviewed journals. A summary report will be circulated to the study and community stakeholders, and to the Auckland District Health Board, Ministry of Health and Pharmac. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12616001387415; Pre-results.

Baseline characteristics of gay and bisexual men in a HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis demonstration project with equity quotas in Auckland, New Zealand.

Background In New Zealand, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) should target gay and bisexual men (GBM), and equity is an important principle. Baseline characteristics of GBM offered PrEP in a demonstration project with an enrolment quota of 50% non-Europeans are described. METHODS: An open-label, single-arm treatment evaluation study design ('NZPrEP') was used. The settings were four publicly funded sexual health clinics in Auckland in 2017. The study population was 150 GBM recruited from clinics, community sources and social media. Participants self-completed an online questionnaire about PrEP awareness, attitudes and sexual risk behaviour in the last 3 months. Baseline characteristics are described and examined to determine whether these were associated with PrEP initiation status (self-referral vs doctor/nurse recommendation). RESULTS: In total, 150 GBM of whom half (52%) were non-European, including 21.3% Maori, 19.3% Asian and 8.7% Pacific, were enrolled into the study. Two-thirds (65.3%) self-referred for PrEP and one-third (34.7%) were recommended PrEP by the doctor/nurse. Participants reported a high number of male condomless receptive anal intercourse partners (MenAICLR) (median 3, range 0-50), with 10% reporting 10 or more MenAICLR and 45.3% reporting group sex. In the previous year, 65.3% had a sexually transmissible infection (STI); 18% had rectal chlamydia or gonorrhoea at enrolment. Almost half (47.7%) had recently used drugs with sex, including 8.1% who used methamphetamine. Participants recommended PrEP had lower education, lived less centrally and had a higher STI prevalence than PrEP self-referrers, but their risk behaviour was similar. CONCLUSIONS: Early PrEP adopters in New Zealand have high HIV risk. Demonstration projects should consider equity mechanisms so that minorities can participate meaningfully.

Implementing HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP): let's not get caught with our pants down.

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a daily pill that prevents HIV acquisition. In March 2018, New Zealand became one of the first countries in the world to publicly fund PrEP for individuals at high risk. PrEP promises significantly improved HIV control but is unfamiliar to most health practitioners here, compromising its potential. In this article we review the rationale for PrEP and identify barriers to rapid implementation. The latter include: consumer and health practitioner awareness; acceptability; scale-up targets; prescribing and pharmacy bottlenecks; service capacity to manage follow-up; primary care training; monitoring systems for uptake and quality; equity; eligibility; risk compensation and policy. Many of these areas are ripe for research and innovation. By addressing these obstacles we can realise the potential of PrEP and move closer to ending HIV in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Auckland: city of syphilis?

AIMS: To briefly report on the large increase in cases of syphilis managed at Auckland Regional Sexual Health Service (ARSHS) in 2015. To raise awareness of syphilis as an emerging significant public health issue in Auckland. METHOD: A search was conducted of the electronic patient management system at ARSHS for cases of syphilis diagnosed between 1st of January 2015 and 31st of December 2015. Those that fitted the Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd (ESR) case definitions for infectious syphilis were included and demographic, clinical and behavioural characteristics were described. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-two cases of infectious syphilis were managed at ARSHS in 2015, which was a 78% increase from the previous year. The crude incidence rate was 9.5 cases per 100,000 head of population. As in previous years, the majority of cases were male (92%) and most of these were gay or bisexual men (GBM). Thirty-nine percent of cases were asymptomatic and 22% of cases were diagnosed with another STI. Twenty-eight percent of GBM were co-infected with HIV. While the overall number of heterosexual cases was small (n=35); there was a 3.8-fold increase from the numbers diagnosed in 2014 (n=9). CONCLUSION: The largest number of syphilis cases in recent decades was managed by the Auckland Regional Sexual Health Service in 2015. The increase in numbers is concerning as syphilis can enhance transmission and acquisition of HIV. Furthermore, other countries have noted increases in congenital syphilis cases when incidence in females has increased. It is important that all persons at risk of STI are tested for syphilis and that sexually active GBM in particular are tested regularly. Health professionals need to be made aware of who and when to test, and to refer or discuss any suspected cases with a specialist service as management of syphilis requires significant expertise.

Pelvic inflammatory disease associated with Chlamydia trachomatis but not Mycoplasma genitalium in New Zealand.

UNLABELLED: Background There is a paucity of studies looking at associations between Mycoplasma genitalium and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of M. genitalium in women attending a sexual health service in New Zealand and secondly to examine for an association of M. genitalium with PID. METHODS: Women consecutively attending the service for a sexual health screen (Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Trichomonas vaginalis) were recruited to establish a baseline prevalence of M. genitalium. An extra cervical swab was taken for the detection of M. genitalium. Recruitment of additional women with a clinical diagnosis of PID continued until a sufficient sample size was obtained to examine the association of PID with M. genitalium. Women in the baseline sample without PID were used as the control group. RESULTS: The control group included 250 women, with M. genitalium diagnosed in 8.7% (95% CI 5.8-12.9%) and C. trachomatis in 9.9% (95% CI 6.8-14.2%). Ninety-one women were recruited with PID; M. genitalium was diagnosed in 9.9% (95% CI 5.3-17.7%) and C. trachomatis in 27.5% (95% CI 19.4-37.4%). Multivariate analysis using clinically relevant variables showed that a diagnosis of C. trachomatis (OR 2.44, 95% CI 1.24-4.81) but not M. genitalium (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.38-2.20) was significantly associated with a PID diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: M. genitalium was almost as commonly diagnosed as C. trachomatis in this population. C. trachomatis was the only infection that was significantly associated with PID.

Staff views of an opportunistic chlamydia testing pilot in a primary health organisation.

INTRODUCTION: The Auckland chlamydia pilot was one of three pilots funded by the Ministry of Health to trial implementation of the 2008 Chlamydia Management Guidelines prior to national roll-out. AIM: To assess what elements in the testing programme pilot worked best for staff and to determine how an opportunistic testing programme could be better configured to meet staff needs and preferences. METHODS: A staff survey listed key chlamydia testing tasks in chronological order, and service interventions supporting these tasks. Staff were asked to rate each task on its difficulty prior to the pilot, and then on the difference the pilot had made to each task. They were also asked to rate service interventions on their usefulness during the pilot implementation. RESULTS: The survey had a response rate of 94%. The testing tasks posing the greatest difficulties to staff were those involving patient interactions (41%) and management of follow-up (52%). About 70% of staff felt tasks were improved by the pilot. Staff considered the three most useful service interventions to be a chlamydia-specific template created for the practice management system, provision of printed patient resources, and regular team discussions with other staff. DISCUSSION: A significant proportion of staff reported difficulties with routine tasks required for opportunistic testing for chlamydia, highlighting the need to involve staff during programme design. Practice nurse-led approaches to future opportunistic testing programmes should be considered as nurses had a more positive response to the pilot and nurse-led approaches have been shown to be successful overseas.

Enhanced surveillance of infectious syphilis in New Zealand sexual health clinics.

Following a rise in cases of infectious syphilis in New Zealand, national enhanced surveillance at sexual health clinics was initiated. All public sexual health clinics reported monthly on the number of cases seen, and completed a coded questionnaire on each case. Monthly reports to routine surveillance were compared and discrepancies reconciled. During 2011, 72 cases of infectious syphilis were reported. The majority (83%) were among men who have sex with men who were mainly infected in New Zealand and had an ethnic profile similar to all New Zealanders. Most heterosexual infections occurred overseas, among people of non-European non-Maori ethnicity. About half the cases had symptoms on presentation. Overall, 18% of men who have sex with men were HIV positive. Resurgent syphilis in New Zealand disproportionally affects men who have sex with men, amongst whom HIV is prevalent. Men who have sex with men should be aware of the risks and symptoms of syphilis and encouraged to have regular sexual health checks including serology testing. Control of syphilis should be included in the strategy to check HIV spread. Syphilis serology should continue to be part of routine immigration and antenatal screening, and where clinically indicated. Enhanced surveillance was easily initiated for an uncommon condition seen at sexual health clinics, and provided valuable information.

Large increase in opportunistic testing for chlamydia during a pilot project in a primary health organisation.

INTRODUCTION: The Auckland chlamydia pilot project was one of three funded by the Ministry of Health to trial implementation of the 2008 Chlamydia Management Guidelines. Chlamydia is the most commonly notified sexually transmitted infection in New Zealand. AIM: To increase opportunistic testing in under-25-year-olds and to improve documentation of partner notification in primary care. METHODS: A four-month pilot was initiated in Total Healthcare Otara using a nurse-led approach. Laboratory testing data was analysed to assess whether the pilot had any impact on chlamydia testing volumes in the target age-group. Data entered in the practice management system was used to assess follow-up and management of chlamydia cases. RESULTS: During the pilot there was a 300% increase in the number of chlamydia tests in the target age group from 812 to 2410 and the number of male tests increased by nearly 500%. Twenty-four percent of people tested were positive for chlamydia, with no significant difference in prevalence by ethnicity. The pilot resulted in better documentation of patient follow-up in the patient management system. DISCUSSION: There was a large increase in chlamydia testing during the pilot with a high prevalence found in the population tested. Chlamydia remains an important health problem in New Zealand. The cost benefit of increased chlamydia screening at a population level has yet to be established.

Cervicitis: limited clinical utility for the detection of Mycoplasma genitalium in a cross-sectional study of women attending a New Zealand sexual health clinic.

BACKGROUND: Although multiple studies have confirmed Mycoplasma genitalium as a cause of nongonococcal urethritis in men, there is less evidence of its pathogenicity in women. Our aims were to determine the prevalence of M. genitalium in a sample of women attending a sexual health clinic and to assess whether there was any association between the detection of M. genitalium and a diagnosis of cervicitis in this population. METHODS: A cross-sectional study recruited women who required screening for sexually transmissible infections. Endocervical swabs to detect the presence of M. genitalium were taken in addition to routine testing for Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Trichomonas vaginalis. Data were collected on demographics, sexual behaviour, clinical symptoms and the presence of clinical or microscopic cervicitis. RESULTS: The prevalence of M. genitalium was 8.4% (n=22, 95% confidence interval (CI): 5.4-12.5%) in the study sample of 261 women. There was an association between the finding of cervical contact bleeding (odds ratio OR): 5.45; 95% CI: 1.93-15.42, P=0.001) and microscopic cervicitis (OR: 2.64; 95% CI: 0.95-7.34, P=0.06) and the presence of M. genitalium when compared with women with no diagnosed infection; however, the latter finding was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Although the prevalence of M. genitalium was high at 8.4%, the overall lack of any association between the findings of cervicitis and the detection of M. genitalium support the conclusion that cervicitis has poor clinical utility as an indicator for the presence of M. genitalium infection.

Partner notification for sexually transmitted infections. Why can't we talk about it?

AIM: Primary care practitioners need practical guidance on how to best manage partner notification for bacterial sexually transmitted infections. This paper reviews published literature on partner notification to determine whether there is good evidence to support the introduction of patient delivered partner therapy for the management of bacterial STI in New Zealand. METHOD: A search of CINAHL, Medline and Cochrane databases was carried out using the search terms partner notification, contact tracing, sexually transmitted infections, sexually transmitted diseases, chlamydia, gonorrhoea and trichomoniasis. After review of the abstracts the identified papers were included in the review if they addressed the research question. RESULTS: Most people diagnosed with a bacterial STI would prefer to notify their sexual contacts themselves; therefore health practitioners need to feel competent to discuss and facilitate this process for their patients. Clinicians and patients are prepared to consider the use of patient delivered partner therapy with reservations however there is little evidence to support the effectiveness of this intervention even if it were legal under current New Zealand prescribing law. CONCLUSION: Training of practice nurses, the use of partner notification cards and implementation of systems to improve documentation of management of index cases are all practical ways of achieving better partner notification outcomes in primary care within existing legal frameworks.

Sexual health and the Rugby World Cup 2011: a cross-sectional study of sexual health clinics in New Zealand.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to describe the characteristics of sexual health clinic (SHC) attendance and sexually transmissible infection (STI) diagnoses during the Rugby World Cup (RWC) in New Zealand in 2011. METHODS: SHC attendance and STI diagnoses around the time of the RWC were compared with the 5 preceding years. A cross-sectional survey conducted at SHCs in four New Zealand cities collected information from attendees having RWC-related sex. RESULTS: Although there was no statistically significant increase in clinic attendance or STI diagnoses during the RWC compared with previous years, in these four cities, 151 individuals of 2079 attending SHCs for a new concern reported RWC-related sex. The most frequently diagnosed STIs were chlamydial infection (Chlamydia trachomatis), genital warts and genital herpes. Most attendees (74%) who had RWC-related sex had consumed three or more alcoholic drinks; 22% had used a condom. Seven percent of women reported nonconsensual sex. RWC-related sex was associated with an increased risk of STI diagnoses in men: gonorrhoea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae): relative risk (RR)=4.9 (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.1-11.4); nonspecific urethritis: RR=2.8 (95% CI: 1.3-5.9); chlamydial infection: RR=1.8 (95% CI: 1.1-2.9). Using a condom was associated with a reduced risk (RR=0.3, 95% CI: 0.1-0.9) of diagnosis with any STI among those having RWC-related sex. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight issues that are amenable to prevention. The continued promotion of condoms as well as a reduction in the promotion and availability of alcohol at such events may reduce sexual health risks as well as other harm.

Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections in men who have sex with men presenting to Auckland Sexual Health Service.

AIM: Reported incidence of HIV infection and infectious syphilis in New Zealand has been increasing in recent years in men who have sex with men (MSM) but there is no recent published data about prevalence of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in this group. Therefore we decided to collect data on prevalent STIs and possible risk factors in a sample of MSM presenting to Auckland Sexual Health Service (ASHS). METHOD: All MSM presenting to ASHS during the study period were eligible for enrollment. Data on demographics, sexual behaviour, use of recreational drugs and STI diagnoses was collected and entered into a data collection form after verbal consent was obtained. RESULTS: Eighty-seven men participated in the survey. A third of the men were symptomatic (n=26) and 44% (n=38) were diagnosed with a new STI including 2 with infectious syphilis and 3 with HIV. The Internet (65%) was the most common method used for meeting sex partners (n=55) and 46% of men (n=37) reported use of recreational drugs within the previous 6 months. Sixty percent (n=52) of men reported more than 5 sexual partners within the previous 6 months and 52% were engaging in concurrent sexual partnerships with both casual and regular partners(n=45). Participants were more likely to use condoms for insertive and receptive anal sex with casual than with regular partners (p=0.0004, p=0.005), however a history of consistent condom use did not rule out diagnosis with a new STI or HIV. CONCLUSION: There was a high prevalence of STIs (44%) in this sample of MSM presenting to a sexual health clinic. Many were presenting with problems rather than attending for routine screening. Possible explanations for the high STI rate include high rates of concurrent sexual partnerships (52%), lower rates of consistent condom use within relationships and use of recreational drugs. Internet use was a common method for meeting sex partners and offers future potential for health promotion interventions for MSM. STI screening should be regularly offered to sexually active MSM regardless of whether they report consistent condom use.

An audit of patients treated for syphilis at Auckland Sexual Health Service.

AIM: As there is no New Zealand data, an audit of patients treated for syphilis at Auckland Sexual Health Service (ASHS) was undertaken to see if management conformed to guidelines and was achieving acceptable outcomes. METHODS: Cases were initially identified from laboratory data and were categorised as being either infectious or non-infectious according to clinical and laboratory criteria. Management was compared to recommendations from ASHS treatment guidelines and treatment outcome was assessed by serological response. RESULTS: 109 cases of syphilis were identified including 9 with HIV infection (8%). Men who had sex with men were much more likely to be diagnosed with infectious syphilis than heterosexuals (p<0.0001). Fifty-one percent of infectious cases (n=35) were asymptomatic. Ninety-four percent (n=103) of cases were treated with antibiotic regimens appropriate for their clinical stage. Discrepancy in management occurred most often in the early latent and unknown duration categories. Ninety-eight cases (90%) completed the full 12 months serological follow-up period and 97% (n=92) of those had an adequate serological response to treatment. There were no treatment failures in patients with HIV infection. CONCLUSION: Current care of patients with syphilis at Auckland Sexual Health Service is achieving acceptable outcomes. Criteria for diagnosing infectious syphilis cases need to be standardised as it has implications for management and disease surveillance. MSM are a major risk group for acquisition of infectious syphilis and regular serological screening is recommended as a large proportion will be asymptomatic.

A case-control study of men with non-gonococcal urethritis at Auckland Sexual Health Service: rates of detection of Mycoplasma genitalium.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have identified Mycoplasma genitalium as a cause of urethritis in men. As there is no New Zealand data, a case-control study was conducted to determine whether this organism is a significant cause of urethritis in men presenting to Auckland Sexual Health Service. METHODS: Enrollment for the study commenced in March 2006 and finished in February 2008. Inclusion criteria for cases of non-gonococcal urethritis were onset of urethritis symptoms within one month confirmed by urethral Gram staining showing >or=10 polymorphonuclear leucocytes per high-powered field. Controls were men presenting during the same time period for asymptomatic sexual health screening. All participants were tested for Neisseria gonorrhoeae, M. genitalium, and Chlamydia trachomatis. Information regarding symptoms, sexual behaviour and treatment was collected using a standard questionnaire. RESULTS: We recruited 209 cases and 199 controls with a participation rate of 96%. The prevalence of C. trachomatis and M. genitalium in non-gonococcal urethritis cases was 33.5% and 10% respectively. Co-infection with these organisms was uncommon (1.9%). C. trachomatis and M. genitalium were diagnosed in 4% and 2% of controls, respectively, and both infections were detected significantly less often than in the cases (P < 0.0001, P < 0.005). Cases were more likely to report inconsistent condom use, multiple sexual contacts and not having sexual intercourse in the last week (P = 0.03, P = 0.02, P = 0.03). A past history of non-gonococcal urethritis was a significant predictor of current symptoms (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to investigate M. genitalium infection in New Zealand men. Our results confirm that M. genitalium is a cause of non-gonococcal urethritis in men presenting to our service.

Case report: lymphogranuloma venereum in New Zealand.

We report New Zealand's first two cases of anorectal lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV). Although infection in these cases was probably acquired off-shore, the cases are reported to demonstrate the need to be vigilant to the possibility of LGV when men who have sex with men present with symptoms of proctitis. Investigation and management of LGV is discussed.

Increase in incidence of infectious syphilis in Auckland, New Zealand: results from an enhanced surveillance survey.

We instigated an enhanced voluntary surveillance system to determine the epidemiology of infectious syphilis in Auckland because it is not a notifiable condition. The study took place over a 12-month period from July 2006 to July 2007. We identified 92 cases of infectious syphilis, of which 71 were male (77%). Forty-four (48%) cases were in men who have sex with men, who made up the biggest proportion. Forty-eight cases (52%) acquired their infection in New Zealand and only 48 of all identified cases were symptomatic (52%). Our results confirm that infectious syphilis incidence is currently under-reported.

Risk factors and characteristics of patients with gonorrhoea presenting to Auckland Sexual Health Service, New Zealand.

AIMS: A case-control study of patients with gonorrhoea presenting to Auckland Sexual Health Service was carried out to determine specific risk factors and to look more closely at the transmission of ciprofloxacin-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the Auckland region. METHODS: Patients who tested positive for gonorrhoea during a 6-month time period from September 2003 till March 2004 were included in the study. A control group was selected from patients who presented during the same time period but who had negative sexually transmitted infection (STI) screens. A selection of N. gonorrhoeae isolates were sent to ESR for typing by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). RESULTS: 204 cases of gonorrhoea were identified during the study period; 50% of the diagnosed cases were in people aged less than 26 years. Gonococcal infection was strongly associated with being of either Maori or Pacific ethnicity (p<0.001). A history of consistent condom use was found to lower the risk of acquisition of gonorrhoea (p=0.009). Thirty-three percent of cases had ciprofloxacin-resistant gonococcal infection and the majority of these acquired their infection in New Zealand (88%). Comparison of PFGE genotyping data with results from an audit in 2001 indicated that genetic diversity amongst ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates has increased significantly. CONCLUSION: The incidence of gonorrhoea in the Auckland population is steadily rising, with the main risk factors being age under 25 and being of Maori or Pacific ethnicity. Genetic diversity amongst ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates is increasing, thus indicating high levels of endemic infection. Urgent action needs to be taken to control the current gonorrhoea epidemic in Auckland and more research is required to investigate reasons for ethnic differences in disease incidence.