Highlights & Basics
- Urethritis classically presents as acute urethral discharge following unprotected sex.
- The two most important etiologic agents are Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis.
- Increased risk is associated with new sex partner, multiple sex partners, or age under 25 years. Disease may be transmitted to infants from infected mothers, resulting in conjunctivitis, iritis, otitis media, or pneumonia.
- Higher morbidity in untreated women (10% to 40%) than in men (1% to 2%).
- Antibiotic therapy is the mainstay of treatment.
Quick Reference
History & Exam
Key Factors
Other Factors
Diagnostics Tests
Treatment Options
Definition
Epidemiology
Etiology
Pathophysiology
Images
Gonorrhea with penile meatal discharge
Gonorrhea with cervicitis and vaginal discharge
Collection of a specimen from a male suspected of having gonorrhea: the urethra is stripped toward the orifice to express some pus; a thin sterile swab is then inserted into the urethra and rotated before being withdrawn
Gram stain of urethral exudate showing gram-negative diplococci and polymorphonuclear leukocytes
McCoy cell monolayers with Chlamydia trachomatis inclusion bodies
Circinate balanitis secondary to reactive arthritis
A case of gonorrheal conjunctivitis that resulted in partial blindness owing to the spread of N gonorrhoeae bacteria
Citations
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Horner PJ, Blee K, Falk L, et al; International Union against Sexually Transmitted Infections. 2016 European guideline on the management of non-gonococcal urethritis. Int J STD AIDS. 2016 Oct;27(11):928-37.[Full Text]
British Association for Sexual Health and HIV. Urethritis and cervicitis. May 2023 [internet publication].[Full Text]
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