Gonorrhea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae)
2014 Case Definition

Background

Gonorrhea is a common sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacterium, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which can be transmitted during vaginal, anal, or oral sex, and at birth to a newborn.

Clinical Description

A sexually transmitted infection commonly manifested by urethritis, cervicitis, proctitis, salpingitis, or pharyngitis. Infection may be asymptomatic.

Laboratory Criteria For Diagnosis

• Observation of gram-negative intracellular diplococci in a urethral smear obtained from a male or an endocervical smear obtained from a female, or
• Isolation of typical gram-negative, oxidase-positive diplococci by culture (presumptive Neisseria gonorrhoeae) from a clinical specimen, or
• Demonstration of N. gonorrhoeae in a clinical specimen by detection of antigen or nucleic acid

Probable

Demonstration of gram-negative intracellular diplococci in a urethral smear obtained from a male or an endocervical smear obtained from a female.

Confirmed

A person with laboratory isolation of typical gram-negative, oxidase-positive diplococcic by culture (presumptive Neisseria gonorrhoeae) from a clinical specimen, or demonstration of N. gonorrhoeae in a clinical specimen by detection of antigen or detection of nucleic acid via nucleic acid amplification (e.g., Polymerase Chain Reaction [PCR]) or hybridization with a nucleic acid probe.

• Gonorrhea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection) | 2023 Case Definition
• Gonorrhea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae) | 1996 Case Definition
• Gonorrhea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae) | 1990 Case Definition