Epidemiological Correlates of Asymptomatic Gonorrhea

Researchers in the current study sought to assess correlates of asymptomatic gonorrhea in patients attending genitourinary clinics participating in the Gonococcal Resistance to Antimicrobials Surveillance Program (GRASP) in England from 2001 to 2003. The sentinel surveillance program collects data annually from June to August.

Study results showed that women with previously diagnosed gonorrhea had decreased odds of asymptomatic gonococcal infection, as was the case with women diagnosed with other sexually transmitted infections (except chlamydia, syphilis, herpes, and warts). Heterosexual men, but not women, co-infected with chlamydia were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with asymptomatic gonorrhea, as were homosexual men co-infected with syphilis and warts.

"The heterogeneity in correlates of asymptomatic gonorrhea has implications for screening in clinical settings," the researchers concluded. "Such findings also depend on the extent of testing on sexually transmitted infections from different sites of infection, which has particular relevance in homosexual men and would thus need to be investigated in other studies."

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