Evaluation prompting transition from enhanced to routine surveillance of lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) in the Netherlands

Abstract

In 2004, a lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) epidemic among men who have sex with men in the Netherlands motivated the introduction of enhanced surveillance. We evaluated the acceptability of the enhanced LGV surveillance in the Netherlands in 2004-2005 to provide recommendations for future surveillance. Completeness of requested patient information was analysed. All 12 sexually transmitted infection (STI) health services participating in the 2004-2005 STI surveillance completed evaluation questionnaires and rated surveillance system features from 1="very poor" to 5="very good". Information from enhanced LGV surveillance was available for 34 (33%) of 104 cases. For these 34 cases, median proportions of response decreased successively for clinical information (100%), sexual anamnesis (71%) and details about the last sex partners (44%). A median score of 4 ("good") was assigned to simplicity, required resources and surveillance information requested and distributed. Seven respondents favoured continuation of LGV surveillance, whereof six preferred modifications, usually meaning less extensive surveillance. In conclusion, the enhanced LGV surveillance was generally regarded as adequate. However, it was limited by low completeness, underlining the need to keep requested information to a minimum. The routine STI surveillance now includes LGV diagnosis and, following this evaluation, the additional enhanced surveillance was discontinued. However, occasional cases justify alertness and LGV remains under routine STI surveillance in the Netherlands.