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Gonorrhea: Pathogen and Symptoms of the gonococcal Urethritis

• Gonorrhea: Etiology, Signs and Symptoms
• Gonorrhea: Diagnosis and Treatment

Review-Literature: (CDC Guidelines, 2012) (IUSTI Guidelines, 2012) (Moran, 2003) (Schneede et al., 2003).

Definition of Gonorrhea

Gonorrheal urethritis (GU) with purulent urethral discharge is a venereal disease caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The word Gonorrhea is derived from an old greek word meaning ‘flow of seed [semen]’.

Epidemiology of Gonorrhea

USA 114/100 000 new cases (in 2004), much lower figures in Europe, Germany 21/100 000 (in 2017).

Etiology of Gonorrhea

Bacterial pathogen:

gram-negative diplococcus Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Strictly aerobic. Unencapsulated.

Morphology of Gonococcus:

gram-negative diplococci with a diameter of about 1 micron (coffee bean-shaped). Frequently intracellular in granulocytes [fig. gonorrhea (microscopy)].

Fig. gonorrhea: schematic drawing of the microscopic finding of urethral discharge. Neisseria gonorrhoeae are gram-negative diplococci (coffee bean-shaped), often intracellular in granulocytes. Figure from Dr. Norman Jacobs, Public Health Image Library, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, USA, https://phil.cdc.gov/.

Virulence factors:

there are pili for the attachment to human epithelial cells and secretion of proteins as virulence factors: porins, IgA-ase, penicillinase. The contact of gonococci leads to endocytosis and basal exocytosis. This results in an infection of the lamina propria.

Transmission of gonorrhea:

mucus membrane infection due to vaginal, oral or anal sexual contact. The risk of infection per intercourse for men is around 17%. Rare transmission occurs through birth or as aerosol infection (conjunctivitis). Humans are the only reservoir for Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Gonorrhea: Signs and Symptoms

Urethritis:

the incubation period is 3–10 days with a large variance depending on the bacterial strain. Typical symptoms are purulent discharge from the urethra, dysuria, pain in the urethra, inguinal lymphadenopathy. The extent of the symptoms is variable, normally women experience less symptoms than men.

Extragenital Infections:

Proctitis or pharyngitis cause only minor or no symptoms, these are relevant bacterial reservoirs. Conjunctivitis (ophthalmia neonatorum), particularly in neonates [fig. neonatal conjunctivitis]. Seldom arthritis or gonococcal sepsis.

Complications of Gonorrhea

Complications in men:

Acute prostatitis, epididymitis, urethral strictures, infertility.

Complications in women:

Bartholinitis, cervical endometritis, pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility.

Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome:

ascending pelvic inflammatory disease with peritoneal infection. Often right-sided abdominal pain due to infection of the hepatic peritoneum (perihepatitis).

Reiter syndrome:

due to a mixed infection with Chlamydia, the Reiter syndrome can also be possible in gonorrhea. See also chapter non-gonococcal urethritis.

References

Schneede u.a. 2003 SCHNEEDE, P. ; TENKE, P. ; HOFSTETTER, A. G.: Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)-a synoptic overview for urologists.
In: Eur Urol
44 (2003), Nr. 1, S. 1–7

  Deutsche Version: Gonorrhoe: Erreger und Klinik gonorrhoischen Urethritis.