Trichomoniasis in Ireland, 2015
Key Points
 In 2015 the crude incidence rate of trichomoniasis decreased to 1.3 per 100,000 population
(n=58), the lowest rate since 2006
 All reported cases were among women with the highest rate among women aged 20-24 years
(6.6/100,000 population)
Trichomoniasis is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the microorganism Trichomonas
vaginalis. Trichomoniasis can affect both males and females, though men with trichomoniasis can be
asymptomatic.
In 2015, all laboratories reported trichomoniasis data via the Computerised Infectious Disease Reporting
(CIDR) system. All cases of trichomoniasis reported by clinicians were also entered into CIDR. This is the third
year for which national case-based data are available for trichomoniasis.
Figure 1: Trend in CIR of trichomoniasis in Ireland, 1995-2015
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
CIR/1000,000 population
3
As of 26th August 2016, there
were 58 cases of trichomoniasis
notified in Ireland during 2015, a
decrease of 37% compared to
2014 (n=92). The crude incidence
rate (CIR) for 2015 was 1.3 per
100,000 population, the lowest
rate since 2006 (1.2 per 100,000
population; figure 1).
Year
Cases were reported from all HSE areas, except HSE Midlands. The majority of cases (n=28; 48%) were
reported in HSE East. The highest age-standardised incidence rate (ASIR) in 2015 was in HSE Northwest
(3.7/100,000) (figure 2). The ASIR in HSE West and HSE South were significantly below the national rate.
HSE Area
Figure 2: Age-standardised incidence rate (ASIR) of trichomoniasis by HSE area compared with national rate, 2015
Ireland
HSE-W
HSE-SE
HSE-S
HSE-NW
HSE-NE
HSE-MW
HSE-M
HSE-E
National rate
Significantly lower
Not significantly different
Significantly higher
0
2
4
6
ASIR per 100,000 Population
8
HSE-Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), 25-27 middle Gardiner St., Dublin 1, Ireland; www.hpsc.ie
Page 1 of 3
Trichomoniasis in Ireland, 2015
Compared to 2014 the largest increase in ASIR was in HSE Southeast (from 1.0/100,000 to 1.9/100,000) but
the rate was not significantly different to the national rate (figure 2). The largest decrease in AISR was in HSE
Midwest where the rate decreased from 2.9 in 2014 to 1.1/100,000 (figure 3).
4
Age-standardised incidence rate
Figure 3: Age-standardised incidence rate of trichomoniasis by HSE area , 2013-2015
7
6
5
4
2013
3
2014
2
2015
1
0
E
M
MW
NE
NW
S
SE
W
Ireland
HSE area
All 58 cases were in females. The median age was 35 years (range 20-59 years), which is slightly older than in
2014 (median age was 33 years, range 18-75 years). The highest age- and gender-specific rates were in 20-24
year old females (6.6/100,000) and 25-29 year old females (5.3/100,000) (figure 4).
Figure 4: Gender- and age-specific rate of trichomoniasis, 2015 (n=58)
50+
45-49
40-44
35-39
30-34
25-29
20-24
15-19
0-14
9
Female
Male
7
0-14
0.0
0
5
3
1
1
3
5
15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49
0.0
6.6
5.3
4.0
4.9
3.6
3.9
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
7
50+
1.4
0
Patient type (reflecting the service at which the patient was diagnosed) was recorded for over two-thirds
(n=41) of trichomoniasis cases in 2015. Just over one third of cases (n=20) were diagnosed in general
practice and 25% (n=15) were diagnosed in STI clinics. Approximately 10% of cases were diagnosed in
emergency departments or other hospital settings.
Four patients diagnosed with trichomoniasis in 2015 were also diagnosed with another STI during 2015:
chlamydia (n=1), hepatitis C (n=1), HIV (n=1), and gonorrhoea (n=1).
HSE-Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), 25-27 middle Gardiner St., Dublin 1, Ireland; www.hpsc.ie
Page 2 of 3
Trichomoniasis in Ireland, 2015
Technical Notes
1. Data are analysed by date of notification in CIDR.
th
2. Data for this report were extracted from CIDR on 26 August, 2016, and were correct at the time of publication.
3. Percentages are rounded up in the text and provided to one decimal place in the tables.
4. The counties covered by each HSE area are as follows: HSE East: Dublin, Kildare & Wicklow; HSE Midlands:
Laois, Longford, Offaly & Westmeath; HSE Midwest: Clare, Limerick & N. Tipperary; HSE Northeast: Cavan,
Louth, Meath & Monaghan; HSE Northwest: Donegal, Leitrim & Sligo; HSE South: Kerry & Cork; HSE Southeast:
Carlow, Kilkenny, S. Tipperary, Waterford & Wexford; HSE West: Galway, Mayo & Roscommon.
5. Age-standardised incidence rates were calculated using the direct method in which the national population was
taken as the standard population. Population data were taken from Census 2011 from the Central Statistics
Office. Data were aggregated into the following age groups for the analysis: 0-4 years, 5-9 years, 10-14 years,
15-19 years, 20-24 years, 25-34 years, 35-44 years, 45-54 years, 55-64 years and ≥65 years.
HSE-Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), 25-27 middle Gardiner St., Dublin 1, Ireland; www.hpsc.ie
Page 3 of 3