Epidemiology

Question 1

Write about Gonorrhoea epidemiology
(7)

Answer 1

82.4 million infections a year (35.9 female, 46.4 male)

Second most common STI in Ireland

90% of cases are male- 5:1 ratio

78% in gbMSM

Incidence of STIs have continued to rise in Ireland (Gonohorrea on the rise)

Cases were rising every year but notable decrease (-26%) during lockdown

Numbers rose again for 2021 (+2.3%) post lockdown

Question 2

Write about N. meningitidis epidemiology

Answer 2

50% of cases in those <1 year old
Seen in babies and young adolescents
Serogroups A, B, C, Y and W
Serogroup B was most common

MenC vaccine in 2000
MenB conjugate vaccine in 2016

88% decline with MenC vaccine in 2000
Small increase again after 2012
MenC booster in 2015

W and Y strains are now increasing

Question 3

Write about H. influenzae infections

Answer 3

Hib used to be the most common cause of meningitis in children (50-60% of cases)

Incidence has declined by 98% since Hib vaccine in 1992

Hib booster introduced in 2006

NTHI increasing every year

Question 4

Write about B. pertussis infections

Answer 4

Significant decrease since vaccine in 1952
Marked increase in 2011/2012
Booster introduced in 2012
Numbers then decreased until 2015 where they rose again
Numbers decreased again in 2018

Question 5

Write about S. pneumoniae epidemiology IPD

Answer 5

Mortality rate higher in those above 65 than young children
ISP rising every year, numbers decreased in COVID
IPD deaths increasing every year
Decreasing in babies but increasing in elderly

Question 6

Write about S. pyogenes epidemiology

Answer 6

Cases rising each year
Decrease during COVID
Increase again

Question 7

Shigella

Answer 7

8 outbreaks in 2018
Large outbreak in 2017 in HSE

Question 8

Salmonella

Answer 8

11 cases of S, Typhi many associated with travel
5 cases of S, paratyphi associated with India

Question 9

Salmonella

Answer 9

11 cases of S, Typhi many associated with travel
5 cases of S, paratyphi associated with India

Question 10

Yersinia

Answer 10

6 cases in 2018

Question 11

EHEC/STEC/VTEC enterohaemorrhagic E. Coli

Answer 11

Ireland had the highest annual incidence of VTEC between 2009 and 2018 with the exception of 2011

Question 12

B. cereus

Answer 12

It enhances the production of Pseudomonas pigments such as pyocyanin and pyoverdine which show a characteristic blue-green and yellow-green colour