Neisseria gonorrhoeae Infection in Women Increases With Rising Gonococcal Burdens in Partners: Chlamydia Coinfection in Women Increases Gonococcal Burden. (6th October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Su, Xiaohong; Le, Wenjing; Zhu, Xiaofeng; Li, Sai; Wang, Baoxi; Madico, Guillermo; Yang, Zhaoyan; Chaisson, Christine E; McLaughlin, Robert E; Gandra, Sumanth; Yoon, Jungwon; Zheng, Bo; Lewis, Lisa A; Gulati, Sunita; Reed, George W; Ram, Sanjay; Rice, Peter A
• Is Part Of: Journal of infectious diseases. Volume 226:Number 12(2022)
• Page Start: 2192
• Page End: 2203
• Publication Date: 2022-10-06
• Subjects: Chlamydia trachomatis infection in women -- Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Diseases -- Causes and theories of causation -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiac408
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1899

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Likelihood of Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection in women exposed to male sex partners with increasing N. gonorrhoeae burdens and enhancement by Chlamydia trachomatis is not defined. Methods: We identified men with urethritis and their regular female sex partners. Exposure to N. gonorrhoeae burdens in men was compared in N. gonorrhoeae -infected versus -uninfected partners. Association of N. gonorrhoeae infection in women with burdens in male partners was estimated using logistic regression. Association of C. trachomatis coinfection and N. gonorrhoeae burdens in women adjusted for burdens in male partners was estimated by linear regression. Results: In total, 1816 men were enrolled; 202 had ≥2 partners, 91 who confirmed monogamy and were enrolled; 77% were married. Seventy were partners of N. gonorrhoeae -infected men; 58 (83%) were N. gonorrhoeae infected, 26 (45%) C. trachomatis coinfected. Infected women had partners with 9.3-fold higher N. gonorrhoeae burdens than partners of uninfected women ( P = .0041). Association of N. gonorrhoeae infection in women with upper quartiles of N. gonorrhoeae burdens in partners increased (odds ratios ≥ 2.97)compared to the first quartile ( P = .032). N. gonorrhoeae burdens in C. trachomatis- coinfected women were 2.82-fold higher than in C. trachomatis- uninfected women ( P = .036). Conclusions: N. gonorrhoeae infections increased in women whose partners were infected with higher N. gonorrhoeae burdens. C. trachomatis coinfection was associated with increased N. gonorrhoeae burdens in women. Abstract : Exposure to male gonococcal burdens was compared in gonococcal-infected versus -uninfected monogamous female partners. Gonococcal infections increased in women whose partners were infected with higher burdens. Chlamydia coinfection in women was also associated with increased gonococcal burdens in the women.