Gonococcal infection – etiology, treatment.
Gonorrhea, known also as “the clap”, is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gram negative diplococcus). Gonorrhea most often affects the genitals, mouth and rectum. In females, gonorrhea can also infect the cervix. Gonorrhea is
most commonly spread during vaginal, oral or anal sex. It can also spread from a mother to child during birth. In babies, gonorrhea most commonly affects the eyes. It affects about 0.8% of women and 0.6% of men. The best way to prevent it is by abstinence, monogamy (ex with only one partner) and proper condom usage.
Etiology:
It is mainly caused by the bacterium Neisseria Gonorrhoeae. The gonorrhea bacteria are most often passed from one person to another during sexual contact, including oral, anal or vaginal intercourse. Previous infection does not confer immunity - a person who has been infected can become infected again by exposure to someone who is infected. Infected persons may be able to infect others repeatedly without having any signs or symptoms of their own. A mother may transmit gonorrhea to her newborn during childbirth; when affecting the infant's eyes, it is referred to as ophthalmia neonatorum. It may be able to spread through the objects contaminated with body fluid from an infected person. The bacteria typically does not survive long outside the body, typically dying within minutes to hours.
Some risk factors include:
- Sexually active women younger than 25
- Homosexuality
- Having a new sex partner
- Having a new sex partner who has other partners
- Having more than one sex partner
- Having had gonorrhea or another sexually transmitted infection
Diagnosis: Culture swab from the site of infection and all mucosal sites; DNA probe(antigen detecting test that uses a probe to detect gonorrhea DNA in specimens); PCR; LCR; urine test.
Treatment:
- Antibiotics
- Ceftriaxone by injection (if allergic – Gemifloxacin or injectable gentamicin)
- Azithromycin orally
- Erythromycin for infants
- for treating sexual partners of infected people
- Patient – delivered partner therapy (PDPT) – involves providing prescriptions or medications to the person to take to his/her partner without the health care provider’s first examining him/her.
It is also recommended that individuals who have been diagnosed and treated for gonorrhea avoid sexual contact with others until at least one week past the final day of treatment in order to prevent the spread of the bacterium.