1. Health Protection Surveillance Centre
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in Ireland:
2018 provisional data
April, 2019

2. Provisional data, 2018
These slides present provisional data on STIs notified to HPSC during 2018, via the Computerised Infectious Disease Reporting system (CIDR).
STI data were extracted from CIDR on 20th March, 2019, and were correct at the time of publication. Data may change following validation, and as more enhanced forms are received from clinicans.
Following validation of 2018 data, a more detailed report on the epidemiology of STIs for 2018 will be produced and this will made available at

3. Provisional data, 2018
Aggregate data on ano-genital warts and non-specific urethritis are notified to HPSC on a bi-annual basis from Departments of Public Health and are reported separately.
HIV, hepatitis B and sexually transmitted enteric infections (STEI), such as shigellosis, are notified via CIDR and are also reported separately.
Latest annual data are available at:
Stay up-to-date with current STI data with the Weekly HIV & STI report at:

4. STIs continued to rise in 2018
7% increase compared to 2017
STI
2018
2017
% change N
Chancroid -
Chlamydia
7,937
7,402
7.2
Gonorrhoea
2,406
2,249
7.0
Granuloma inguinale
Herpes simplex (genital)
1,591
1,554
2.4
Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) 28 20
40.0
Syphilis (early infectious)
487
398
22.4
Trichomoniasis 64 67
-4.5
Total
12,513
11,690

5. Sex distribution, 2018
More men than women

6. Age distribution, 2018 Younger people at higher risk
This graph excludes individuals whose age was less than 15 years or more than 59 years, and cases where sex was unknown

7. Mode of transmission, 2018
Men who have sex with men (MSM) disproportionately affected

8. Burden of disease, 2018: Who is most affected?
Young people (aged years)
49% of chlamydia cases
39% of herpes simplex cases
32% of gonorrhoea cases
Men who have sex with men (MSM)*
96% of LGV cases
62% of syphilis cases
40% of gonorrhoea cases
*Where mode of transmission was known (in 96%, 72% and 62% of cases, respectively), 100% of LGV cases, 86% of syphilis cases, and 64% of gonorrhoea cases were in MSM.

9. STI outbreaks, 2018 Update on national STI outbreaks
One gonorrhoea outbreak was notified to HPSC in 2018:
Occurred in the Northwest (October 2018 to March 2019)
18 people notified with gonorrhoea were considered to be part of the outbreak
Mode of transmission was heterosexual
Outbreak control measures included increased clinics for testing and the launch of a local awareness campaign
HIV/STI increase in MSM: National Outbreak Response Group
National multidisciplinary inter-sectoral group established in 2016
In response to increase in HIV and STIs among MSM, an Action Plan was developed:
Final meeting in September 2018
Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme will continue to monitor MSM sexual health and implementation of the action plan
Data from the Outbreak Response Group available at:

10. Preventing STIs: Safer sex
Get tested regularly. Information on free sexual health services in Ireland is available at:
(resource for gay and bisexual men)
Use condoms for vaginal, oral and anal sex
Reduce the number of partners and overlapping partners. The more partners you have, the greater your chance of coming into contact with an infected person

11. Acknowledgements
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) would like to thank all those who provided the data for this report, particularly the STI clinics, personnel within the Departments of Public Health, the laboratories and GP clinics.
These slides may be copied and reproduced, provided HPSC is acknowledged. Suggested citation: HSE-Health Protection Surveillance Centre. STI provisional slideset Dublin: HPSC; 2019.