GONORRHEA
I. Etiology
- Caused by Neisseria gonorrheae
II. Clinical Features
- Men: urethritis (with dysuria and urethral discharge; sometimes
asymptomatic)
- Women: Cervicitis (with vaginal discharge, lower abdominal discomfort, and
dyspareunia); Salpingitis (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease)
- Men and women: Local complications (lymphangitis, periurethral abscess),
disseminated disease (petechial or pustular skin lesions, asymmetrical
arthritis, tenosynovitis, and raraely, meningitis or endocarditis)
- Coinfection w/Chlamydia Trachomatis seen in
20-40% of pts with gonorrhea
Single-dose regimens (e.g. with ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, gatifloxacin,
spectinomycin, azithromycin, ofloxacin, or cefixime) have been shown to have
high cure rates in uncomplicated urogenital or rectal infection; pharyngeal or
disseminated infection generally requires longer treatment.
Antimicrobial resistance to quinolones is very common in the U.S. as of 2006.