[Epidemiology of sexually transmitted infections; how should the Dutch data be interpreted?]

Surveillance of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the Netherlands is based on data from the public health service (GGD) centres for sexual health and the Netherlands institute for health services research (NIVEL) data on primary care registrations. Epidemiological data show a strong increase in the number of bacterial STIs seen in recent decades, but the significance of this trend is unclear. Tests are, performed much more often and are more sensitive, and tests are carried out more often in people from selected high-risk groups; changes in the triage of testing behaviour can, therefore, influence interpretation of trends. Prevention, early detection and early treatment have led to a decrease in the number of new diagnoses of 'HIV infection'. Developments such as pre-exposure prophylaxis, mobile dating apps, sex under influence of drugs ('chemsex'), vaccinations, new technology for quick and simple diagnosis and self-testing mean that a tailored approach is required in combating infectious diseases and that additional surveillance methods are required alongside current methods.