Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Neisseria gonorrhoeae, also known as gonococcus (singular) or gonococci (plural), is a species of <a href="/facts/Gram-negative/S1PbVtp4">Gram-negative</a> <a href="/facts/Diplococci/for4DkxQ">diplococci</a> <a href="/facts/Bacteria/wC8xSCsU">bacteria</a> first isolated by <a href="/facts/Albert_Ludwig_Sigesmund_Neisser/xdurshpT">Albert Neisser</a> in 1879. An obligate human pathogen, it primarily colonizes the mucosal lining of the urogenital tract; however, it is also capable of adhering to the mucosa of the nose, pharynx, rectum, and <a href="/facts/Conjunctiva/3UTlea10">conjunctiva</a>. It causes the <a href="/facts/Sexually_transmitted_infection/IYL1rxdI">sexually transmitted</a> genitourinary infection <a href="/facts/Gonorrhea/xulQCkLF">gonorrhea</a> as well as other forms of gonococcal disease including disseminated gonococcemia, <a href="/facts/Septic_arthritis/pKydXkpn">septic arthritis</a>, and gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum.
N. gonorrhoeae is <a href="/facts/Oxidase_test/UB7VGeWl">oxidase</a> positive and a <a href="/facts/Microaerophile/J4dHmegH">microaerophile</a> that is capable of surviving <a href="/facts/Phagocyte/1vbsR9er">phagocytosis</a> and growing inside <a href="/facts/Neutrophil/KL6oTt8b">neutrophils</a>. <a href="/facts/Microbiological_culture/y3VaXn9Q">Culturing</a> it requires carbon dioxide supplementation and enriched agar (<a href="/facts/Chocolate_agar/SBCWGAwA">chocolate agar</a>) with various antibiotics (<a href="/facts/Thayer%25E2%2580%2593Martin_agar/k1jaRJsU">Thayer–Martin</a>). It exhibits <a href="/facts/Antigenic_variation/4cQDTTX7">antigenic variation</a> through <a href="/facts/Genetic_recombination/uocNH0m7">genetic recombination</a> of its <a href="/facts/Pilus/xCNEXUdy">pili</a> and surface proteins that interact with the <a href="/facts/Immune_system/HRCTf1pb">immune system</a>.
Sexual transmission is through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Sexual transmission may be prevented through the use of barrier protection. Perinatal transmission may occur during childbirth, though it is preventable through antibiotic treatment of the mother before birth and application of antibiotic eye gel on the eyes of the newborn. Gonococcal infections do not result in protective immunity; therefore, individuals may be infected multiple times. Reinfection is possible due to N. gonorrhoeae's ability to evade the immune system by varying its surface proteins.
Asymptomatic infection is common in both males and females. Untreated infection may spread to the rest of the body (disseminated gonorrhea infection), especially the joints (septic arthritis). Untreated infection in women may cause <a href="/facts/Pelvic_inflammatory_disease/gXtEQ4EV">pelvic inflammatory disease</a> and possible infertility due to the resulting scarring. Gonorrhoea is diagnosed through <a href="/facts/Microbiological_culture/y3VaXn9Q">cultures</a>, <a href="/facts/Gram_stain/E20u5av2">Gram staining</a>, or <a href="/facts/Nucleic_acid_test/mqXky9Ej">nucleic acid tests</a> (i.e. <a href="/facts/Polymerase_chain_reaction/G0jWzJy1">polymerase chain reaction</a>) of urine samples, urethral swabs, or cervical swabs. <a href="/facts/Chlamydia_infection/bcKTIM1L">Chlamydia</a> co-testing and testing for other STIs is recommended due to high rates of co-infection.
<a href="/facts/Antibiotic_resistance_in_gonorrhea/QtCCUdgH">Antibiotic resistance in N. gonorrhoeae</a> is a growing public health concern, especially given its propensity to develop resistance easily. This ability of N. gonorrhoeae to rapidly adapt to novel antimicrobial treatments has been seen several times since the 1930s, making numerous treatment plans obsolete. Some strains have exhibited resistance to the current ceftriaxone treatments.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae open-in-new

Neisseria gonorrhoeae