Gonorrhoeae

Gonorrhea cause

Neisseria gonorrhoeae, gram-negative diplococcus

Albert Neisser

discovered gonorrhoeae in 1879

Neisseria gonorrhoeae shape

coffee-bean shaped diplococci

gonorrhea meaning

flow of seed

gonorrhea incubation period

2-30 days

Gonorrhea transmission

person-to-person STI

Gonorrhea natural host

humans

Organisms needed for infection

1000

IgA protease

enzyme that helps gonorrhea evade immune system

Pilli

help bacteria adhere to mucosa membranes

Lipooligosaccharide

causes inflammation and tissue damage

Infection site in females

cervix, urethra, anal canal, and pharynx

Infection sites in males

urethra, anal canal, and pharynx

Symptoms in males

painful urination and pus discharge, 80-90% develop symptoms

Symptoms in females

many have few or no symptoms, with 50-80% asymptomatic

Complicatins in women

PID, infertility, ectopic pregnancy, chronic pelvic pain

Complications in men

epididymitis and possible infertility

Disseminated gonoccal infection

Spread of infection through the bloodstream causing fever, joint pain, skin lesions, or endocarditis

Gonorrhea diagnosis

Molecular probes, Gram stain, ELISA

First drugs to treat gonnorhea

sulfonamides

Antibiotics used after sulfonamides

penicillin

Antibiotics used now

cephalosporins

Prevention for gonorrhea

avoid sexual contact with infected individuals and practice protected sex, no vaccine is available