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Cause:
Bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
Illness and treatment:
About half of women and some men have no symptoms. When
symptoms occur, urethral discharge and painful urination are
typical of genital infections. Complications include pelvic
inflammatory disease in women with a risk of infertility or
epididymitis in men. There can be conjunctivitis,
pharyngitis, proctitis, or, rarely, bloodstream infection.
Treatment is with antibiotics.
Sources:
Gonorrhea is sexually
transmitted or acquired at birth.
Additional risks:
Rates are highest among sexually active adolescents and
young adults.
Prevention:
Use safe sexual practices to
reduce transmission. Screen sexually active women at risk to
detect asymptomatic cases. If gonorrhea is found, also
screen or treat for Chlamydia.
Recent Washington trends:
Each year over 3,000 cases are reported.
2008:
3,116 cases were reported
(47.3 cases/100,000 population).
Purpose of Reporting and
Surveillance
- To assess trends in epidemic
patterns, understand the impact of the burden of disease on
populations, the health care infrastructure, and to better
target population-level disease prevention efforts
- To assure the adequate treatment
of infected individuals in order to reduce the duration of
infectiousness and prevent sequelae of infection. (e.g., PID,
ectopic pregnancy, infertility)
- To identify cases in a timely
fashion in order to interrupt the chain of infection through
patient-level interventions such as management of sexual
contacts and behavioral risk reduction counseling.
Legal Reporting Requirements
-
Health care
providers: notifiable to local health jurisdiction
within 3 work days
-
Hospitals:
notifiable to local health jurisdiction within 3 work
days
-
Laboratories:
notifiable to local health jurisdiction within 2 work
days
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Local health
jurisdictions: notify the Washington State Department of
Health (DOH)
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STD Services
Section within 7 days of case investigation completion;
summary information required within 21 days for all
reported cases
Last
update
November 2009 |
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