 Sexually
transmitted
disease caused by a
bacterium
 Grows in warm, moist
body cavities of both men
and women.
 Attacks the mucous
membranes
 Curable
(Crosta, 2009)

Dates back to medieval times

Known as the “clap” or “drip”

The earliest treatment of gonorrhea was
with the use of mercury

1879-Albert Neisser discovered
gonococcus

1890’s-First Vaccine prepared from
killed gonoccoci, taken from Neisser’s
laboratory

1909- Vaccine introduced.

1940’s- Antibiotics came in to use
(penicillin)
(Mandal, n.d.)

Anyone that engages in sexually
activity ( anal, vaginal, or oral sex).

Passed via sexual fluids (but does
not require ejaculation to become
infected or pass infection)

Untreated mother to baby
transmission

In the United States, the highest
reported rates of infection are among
sexually active teenagers, young
adults, and African Americans.
(CDC,2014)
Swab Samplesample from part of the
body that is most likely
infected.
Gram
StainSampled
from the
urethra or a
cervix is
placed on a
slide and
stained with
dye.
(Women’s Health, 2011)
Urine testGonorrhea in the
cervix or urethra
can be diagnosed
with a urine
sample.
Incubation period: 1 to 14 days
More frequent urination than
usual
Pus-like discharge from the penis
Pain or burning feeling while
urinating
Painful or swollen testicles
Rectal infectionanal itching, bleeding,
soreness, painful
bowel movements,
and discharge
Oral infection: rarely
shows symptoms, but can
cause a sore throat
One out of 10 men with
gonorrhea has no gonorrhea
(Planned Parenthood, 2012)
symptoms
Incubation period: 1 to 14 days
Fever
Abdominal pain
Throwing up
Bleeding between menstrual periods
Menstrual irregularities
Rectal infectionanal itching,
bleeding, soreness,
painful bowel
movements, and
discharge
Painful intercourse
Painful urination
Vulva tenderness
Urge to urinate
Yellowish or yellow –green
discharge
Oral infection: rarely shows
symptoms, but can cause a sore
throat
Four out of five women with
gonorrhea have no gonorrhea
symptoms. (Planned Parenthood, 2012)
Untreated gonorrhea
-Bacteria can spread to blood and joints
-Inflammation of joints
-Increased risk of HIV infection
In women can cause pelvic inflammatory disease
-Causes scar tissue in the fallopian tubes
- Can cause an ectopic pregnancy
- Can cause infertility
In pregnant women the infection can be transmitted to the baby as it passes through
the birth canal. These infections can lead to blood, joint, and eye infections.
In men can cause epididymitis
-painful condition of the testicles
-swollen testicles
-can cause infertility
(NIAID,2011)

Simple and Effective, when detected early.
antibiotics
-Cipro® XR 500 mg a single dose
-Levaquin® 500 mg a single dose,
-Tequin® 400 mg a single dose
Consult with health care provider to decide which
treatment is the best
(STD,2011)
Take full prescribed dosage of medicine.
Do not share medication
Consult doctor if symptoms persist
Make sure partner(s) is/are tested/treated.
-Get tested after three weeks to make sure the infection is
gone. -No sexual activity until doctor confirmation that
infection is gone
(Planned Parenthood,
2012)




Gonorrhea has progressively developed resistance to the
antibiotic drugs
Cephalosporin antibiotics have been the foundation of
recommended treatment for gonorrhea.
-Cephalosporin-resistant gonorrhea would significantly
complicate the ability of providers to treat gonorrhea
successfully.
Increasing need to research and develop new treatments
-decreasing antibiotic options
Each year in the United States, at least 2 million people
become infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics
and at least 23,000 people die each year as a direct result of
these infections.
(CDC,2014)
(CDC,2014)
CDC
estimates that, annually, 820,000
people in the United States get new
gonorrhea infections and less than half of
these infections are detected and reported
to CDC.
CDC
estimates that 570,000 of them were
among young people 15-24 years of age.
In 2012, 334,826 cases of gonorrhea were
reported to the CDC
(CDC,2014)
 Number
of reported cases underestimates
incidence
 Incidence
remains high in some groups defined
by geography, age, race/ethnicity, or sexual risk
behavior
 Increasing
proportion of gonococcal infections
caused by resistant organisms
(CDC,2014)
(CDC,2014)
(CDC,2014)
Gonorrhea — Rates by Year, United States, 1941 – 2012
(CDC,2014)
Gonorrhea — Rates by Sex, United States, 1992 –
2012
(CDC,2014)
Gonorrhea — Rates by State, United States and Outlying Areas,
2012
(CDC,2014)
Gonorrhea — Rates by Age and Sex, United States, 2012
(CDC,2014)
 Gonorrhea
is caused by the
bacterium Neisseria
gonorrhoeae.
 Gram-negative, intracellular,
aerobic diplococcus.
 The bacteria adhere to
columnar epithelial cells,
penetrate them, and multiply
on the basement membrane.
 Mainly affects the host’s
columnar or cuboidal
(Todar,2013)
epithelium
 Humans
are the only natural
host, mainly sexual contact.
(Mayo Clinic, 2014)

Possible mother to child
transmission.

Females/ Male can
contract gonorrhea during
vaginal, oral, or anal sex
with an infected partner.

Gonorrhea most often
affects the urethra,
rectum or throat. In
females, gonorrhea can
also infect the cervix.
(Mayo Clinic, 2014)
(ASHA,2014)
 Organism
is fragile and cannot survive outside of
human host.
-Affected by temperature changes, drying, UV
light, and other environmental stresses.
 Organism
cannot be transmitted from clothing, toilet
seats, or household utensils to healthy person.
 Organism
can affect any sexual active person, even
if they are healthy.
(Todar,2013)
 Engaging
in risky sexual activity
 Lack
of condoms use/ Lack of access to condoms.
 Lack
of sexual education
 Lack
of communication between partner(s)
 Lack
of routine STI screenings
 Lack
of access to medical care
(CDC,2014)
(Planned
Parenthood, 2012)
 Abstaining
from sexual
activity
 Increase
condom use
 Increase
sexual education
 Increase
routine STI
screening
 Reduce
infection rates
 Increase new effective treatments
 Reduce contact between infected and
uninfected.
 Seek and receive treatment
 Take full treatment and do not engage
in any sexual activity until cleared of
infection.
 Development of Vaccination
1.
2.
3.
4.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014, January
07).Gonorrhea - CDC fact sheet. Retrieved from
http://www.cdc.gov/std/gonorrhea/stdfact-gonorrhea.htm
Crosta, P (2009 , June ,29). What Is Gonorrhea? What Causes
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Today Web Site:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155653.php
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http://textbookofbacteriology.net/neisseria.html
Mandal, A Gonorrhea History. (n.d) retrieved February 08 2014,
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Parenthood Web Site: http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/stds-hivsafer-sex/gonorrhea-4269.htm
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Allergy and Infectious Diseases Web Site:
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.aspx
8.STD (2011). Gonorrhea . retrieved February 07 2014, from Sexually Transmitted
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