Gonorrhea

Abstract

Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a Gram-negative intracellular pathogen, causes gonorrhea. While usually sexually transmissible, it can be acquired by direct inoculation. Untreated gonococcal infections have deleterious impacts, including adverse pregnancy outcomes, ectopic pregnancy, infertility, and even blindness. Extended-spectrum cephalosporins remain the mainstay of therapy, and gonococcal culture is essential to determine susceptibility to these agents. Antimicrobial resistance is a global public health concern, and few new agents are in the pipeline. Gonorrhea control programs rely on health education, access to diagnostic testing (where possible), effective therapy, and partner notification. Introducing inexpensive, sensitive, and specific point-of-care tests will aid antimicrobial stewardship efforts in countries utilizing the syndromic management approach. Targeted vaccination of higher-risk populations with cross-protective outer membrane vesicle-based meningococcal B-vaccines could reduce N. gonorrhoeae transmission in the future. Doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis may further reduce gonococcal incidence in the short term; however, its long-term impact on the human resistome/microbiome remains unknown.

Keywords: DoxyPEP; Neisseria gonorrhoeae; antibiotic therapy; antimicrobial resistance; diagnostic testing; gonococcal infection; partner notification; prevention; vaccination.