Gonorrhea risk factors
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sara Mehrsefat, M.D. [2], Priyamvada Singh, MBBS [3]
Overview
Common risk factors in the development of gonorrhea include sexual activity, multiple sex partners, previous history of sexually transmitted diseases, partner with a past history of any sexually transmitted disease, and failure to use a condom during sex.[1][2][3]
Risk factors
Any sexually active person can become infected with gonorrhea. In the United States, the highest reported rates of infection are observed among sexually active teenagers, young adults, and African-Americans. Common risk factors for the development of gonococcal infection include:[1][2][3][4]
- Having multiple sexual partners
- Having a sexual partner with a past history of any sexually transmitted disease
- Failure to use condoms during sexual intercourse
- Having a drug addiction
- Male homosexuality
- Multiple anonymous partners
- Abuse of substances (crystal methamphetamine)
- History of HIV infection
- Low socioeconomic status
- Being of Black, Hispanic, or Native Americans descent
- Abuse of substances (e.g., crack, cocaine)
- Early age of onset of sexual activity
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
- History of HIV infection
- Use of an intrauterine device (IUD)
Common risk factors in the development of disseminate gonococcal infection include:[5][6][7][8][9]
- Recent menstruation
- Pregnancy
- Immediate post-partum state
- Complement deficiencies (C5, C6, C7, or C8)
- Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Klausner JD, Barrett DC, Dithmer D, Boyer CB, Brooks GF, Bolan G (1998). “Risk factors for repeated gonococcal infections: San Francisco, 1990-1992”. J Infect Dis. 177 (6): 1766–9. PMID 9607868.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/std/gonorrhea/stdfact-gonorrhea.htm Accessed September 20, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Mertz KJ, Levine WC, Mosure DJ, Berman SM, Dorian KJ, Hadgu A (1997). “Screening women for gonorrhea: demographic screening criteria for general clinical use”. Am J Public Health. 87 (9): 1535–8. PMC 1380985. PMID 9314811.
- ↑ Hook EW, Reichart CA, Upchurch DM, Ray P, Celentano D, Quinn TC (1992). “Comparative behavioral epidemiology of gonococcal and chlamydial infections among patients attending a Baltimore, Maryland, sexually transmitted disease clinic”. Am J Epidemiol. 136 (6): 662–72. PMID 1442733.
- ↑ Meador, Robert, and H. Ralph Schumacher. “Evaluating and treating patients with polyarthritis of recent onset.” Hospital Physician 39 (2003): 37-45.
- ↑ WATRING, WATSON G., and DANIEL L. VAUGHN. “Gonococcemia in pregnancy.” Obstetrics & Gynecology 48.4 (1976): 428-430.
- ↑ Phupong V, Sittisomwong T, Wisawasukmongchol W (2005). “Disseminated gonococcal infection during pregnancy”. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 273 (3): 185–6. doi:10.1007/s00404-005-0057-3. PMID 16136359.
- ↑ Petersen BH, Lee TJ, Snyderman R, Brooks GF (1979). “Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteremia associated with C6, C7, or C8 deficiency”. Ann Intern Med. 90 (6): 917–20. PMID 109025.
- ↑ Wise CM, Morris CR, Wasilauskas BL, Salzer WL (1994). “Gonococcal arthritis in an era of increasing penicillin resistance. Presentations and outcomes in 41 recent cases (1985-1991)”. Arch Intern Med. 154 (23): 2690–5. PMID 7993152.
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