A new approach to gonorrhea control. The asymptomatic man and incidence reduction

Abstract

Reduction of gonorrhea incidence in the United States continues to resist public health intervention. Control strategies currently in use are associated with containment of the disease; about 1 million cases have been reported annually since 1975. Control efforts emphasize treatment of symptomatic men and the detection of asymptomatic women. Asymptomatic gonorrhea in men is well known clinically, but its epidemiologic significance has not been detailed. More than 60% of the infected partners of certain selected women are asymptomatic. By focusing control resources on these women and removing their asymptomatic partners from the disease reservoir, a substantial reduction in gonorrhea incidence can be expected.