MMI

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Neisseria gonorrhoeae, also know as gonococcus, is a gram-negative, diplococcus, nonmotile, non-spore forming, aerobe that is spread through sexual contact2. It is a human pathogen that is spread directly from person-to-person, typically through mucous membranes1. Infection to a fetus through vertical transmission is possible1. This organism is relatively fragile leaving it extremely susceptible to temperature changes, drying, UV light, and other environmental stresses2. Neisseria gonorrhoeae possesses the many typical components of a gram-negative outer membrane such as proteins, phospholipids, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)2. However, neisserial LPS is often referred to as lipooligosaccharide (LOS) due to its highly branched basal oligosaccharide structure with the lack of repeating O-antigen subunits2. The LOS that Neisseria gonorrhoeae expresses helps play a role in the pathogenesis of this bacteria2.
The most common infection caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae is gonorrhea, also known as “the clap” 4. Gonorrhea is a common sexually transmitted infection that can occur in both males and females . The infection is spread through participation in unprotected sexual intercourse with infected individuals4. The infection is more commonly found in women, this is because women who have unprotected sex with infected males have a 50-60% chance of acquiring the infection, while men who have sex with infected females have only a 20% chance of acquiring the infection9. Transmission of disease occurs through the direct contact of exudates from the mucous membranes of infected individuals5. The bacteria then attach to and penetrate the simple columnar epithelium and produce inflammatory responses in the affected area. With the use of proper p...

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...roup of antibiotics as penicillin; therefore it works by interfering with the bacteria’s ability to form cell walls7. The cell wall of bacteria is essential for their survival, and with the help of ceftriaxone forming holes in the cell walls of bacteria, the number of bacteria begin to decrease also7. Lastly, azithromycin is a type of antimicrobial that also works by interfering with the bacteria’s abilities to form essential proteins for survival8. Due to the fact that antimicrobial resistance is slowly starting to increase for gonorrhea treatment, it is important for all individuals undergoing treatment to take antimicrobials efficiently, and ensure they take all of the medicine prescribed by their doctor8. There are no vaccines available for gonorrhea today, however if you take the proper precautions and treatments when necessary the bacteria can be controlled3.

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