Abstract
Gonorrhea is the second most commonly reported sexually transmitted infection (STI) in Canada after chlamydia, and rates for this STI have been increasing since 1997. To summarize trends observed in gonorrhea rates for 2010-2015 in Canada. Laboratory-confirmed cases of gonorrhea are reported to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) by all of the Canadian provinces and territories. The overall national rate was computed, as were rates per sex, age group and province/territory. In 2015, 19,845 cases of gonorrhea were reported in Canada, corresponding to a rate of 55.4 cases per 100,000 population and a 65.4% increase from 2010 (33.5 cases per 100,000 population). Males had consistently higher rates than did females (70.2 per 100,000 versus 40.6 per 100,000 in 2015) and faster rising rates (85.2% versus 39.5% in 2010-2015). Rates among adults 60 years and older increased faster than rates among younger people, although the highest rates were among those 15-29 years of age. The Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon had the highest gonorrhea rates in 2015. Males, adolescents and young adults continue to represent the majority of gonorrhea cases. Research is needed to better understand the current trends in gonorrhea infection in order to maintain, evaluate and improve primary and secondary STI prevention activities.
Highlights
Gonorrhea, caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae, is the second most commonly reported sexually transmitted infection (STI) in Canada, after chlamydia
Males, adolescents and young adults continue to represent the majority of gonorrhea cases
Untreated gonorrhea may lead to reactive arthritis, disseminated gonococcal infection and infertility in both sexes [2]
Summary
Gonorrhea, caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae, is the second most commonly reported sexually transmitted infection (STI) in Canada, after chlamydia. Gonococcal infections are usually asymptomatic in females, but symptomatic in males [2]. Clinical outcomes of untreated gonorrhea include pelvic inflammatory disease, chronic pelvic pain and ectopic pregnancy in females; in males, clinical outcomes include epididymo-orchitis [2]. Gonorrhea increases the infectiousness of and susceptibility to HIV by increasing the number of HIV target cells in the genital tract and by amplifying HIV shedding (an infected cell releases viral particles, which in turn can infect new cells) [5,6]. Gonorrhea is the second most commonly reported sexually transmitted infection (STI) in Canada after chlamydia, and rates for this STI have been increasing since 1997
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