23 Gonorrhea
https://www.cdc.gov/std/gonorrhea/default.htm
23.1 Epidemiologic Review
23.1.1 Disease Information
Overview: Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
Symptoms: Symptoms can include unusual genital or rectal discharge, painful urination, frequent urination and pain during intercourse. Serious complications can include disseminated infection (an infection that spreads to other organs), pelvic inflammatory disease or prostatis (inflammation of the prostate).
Transmission: Transmission occurs during vaginal, oral or rectal sex with an infected partner through contact with infected body fluids.
Treatment: Antibiotics are the recommended form of treatment.
Prevention Use of condoms, reducing the number of sexual partners and increased routine screening can help prevent the spread of disease.
23.1.2 Demographics
Individuals between 18-29 years of age comprise the largest age group with infection, representing almost 50% of all cases in Salt Lake County.
Rates for <1 and 1-4 years of age are not displayed due low case counts.
| Race | Rate per 100k |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 317 |
| Asian | 98 |
| Black or African American | 680.6 |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 326.9 |
| Other Race | 141.8 |
| Two or More Races | 9.1 |
| Unknown | <5 cases |
| White | 169.8 |
Rates for American Indian or Alaska Native, Black or African American, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders are elevated.
Rates for Unknown Race are not displayed due low case counts.
| Ethnicity | Rate per 100k |
|---|---|
| Hispanic or Latino | 224.6 |
| Not Hispanic or Latino | 144.9 |
| Unknown | <5 cases |
Rates for Hispanic or Latino people are elevated.
Rates for Unknown Ethnicity are not displayed due to low case counts.
23.1.4 Monthly and Historical Comparisons
Gonorrhea rates in the United States have been increasing for nearly 10 years, which raises concerns about antibiotic resistance for current and past treatment regimens.
Data for Utah and the CDC were retrieved from the CDC’s Notifiable Infectious Disease Data Tables and were available up until 2020.