Retrospective Review of Gonococcal and Chlamydial Cases of Epididymitis at 2 Canadian Sexually Transmitted Infection Clinics, 2004-2014

Gonococcal Infection of the Glans Skin, a Rare Local Complication of Gonorrhea: A Clinical Study of 13 Cases

The study aimed to understand the incidence, site, skin lesion manifestations, and treatment of gonococcal infection of the glans skin. We enrolled men with gonococcal infection of the glans skin and men with gonococcal urethritis from January 2014 to February 2020. Demographic data, site of onset, and skin lesion manifestations were recorded for all patients. Ceftriaxone (1 g) was injected intramuscularly once daily for 5 days in patients with lesions comprising abscesses or nodules. A single dose of ceftriaxone (1 g) was injected intramuscularly in patients with pustules. Incision and drainage were performed in patients with nonruptured abscesses. Thirteen patients had gonococcal infection of the glans skin (0.65%; 95% confidence interval = [0.30, 1.01]) among 1,989 patients with gonococcal urethritis. Mean age was 35.48 ± 2.37 (range = 26-45) years. Nonmarital sexual behavior patterns were genital-genital in eight patients (61.54%) and genital-oral in five patients (38.46%). All skin lesions occurred on the ventral side of the glans. Eleven patients (84.62%) had a single lesion and two (15.38%) had multiple lesions. The lesions manifested as abscesses in five patients (38.46%), nodules in five patients (38.46%), and pustules in three patients (23.08%). All lesions exhibited tenderness. All 13 patients were cured after treatment. The study shows that gonococcal infection of the glans skin is a rare local complication of gonorrhea. Lesions often occur on the ventral side of the glans, presenting as abscesses, nodules, and pustules. Ceftriaxone treatment was effective for gonococcal infection of the glans skin.

Gonococcal tysonitis, a rare local complication of gonorrhea: a clinical study of 15 cases

To investigate the incidence, clinical manifestations, and treatments of gonococcal tysonitis in men. We enrolled men with gonococcal tysonitis and men with gonococcal urethritis from January 2000 to December 2020. Demographic data, interval from non-marital sexual contact to the onset of symptoms of gonococcal tysonitis, occurrence sites, and manifestations were recorded for all patients. Ceftriaxone (1 g) was injected intramuscularly once daily for 5 days in patients with lesions comprising abscesses or nodules. A single dose of ceftriaxone (1 g) was injected intramuscularly in patients with sinus-like lesions. Incision and drainage were performed in patients with non-ruptured abscesses. Fifteen patients with gonococcal tysonitis (0.29%; 95% confidence interval: 0.15-0.44%) were observed among 5087 patients with gonococcal urethritis. The mean age was 38.64 years (range, 17-74 years). The mean gonococcal tysonitis incubation period was 6.02 ± 1.37 days (range, 2-11 days). Lesions were present in the right side of the preputial frenulum in seven patients (46.67%), in the left side of the preputial frenulum in six patients (40%), and in both sides of preputial frenulum in two patients (13.33%). The lesions manifested as abscesses in 7 patients (46.67%), nodules in six patients (40%), and sinus-like lesions in two patients (13.33%); all lesions exhibited tenderness. All 15 patients were cured after treatment. Gonococcal tysonitis is a rare local complication of gonorrhea. Gonococcal urethritis with concurrent gonococcal tysonitis was less common than gonococcal urethritis with concurrent paraurethral gonococcal infection or gonococcal urethritis with concurrent gonococcal epididymitis. Gonococcal tysonitis lesions manifest as abscesses, nodules, and sinus-like lesions. Treatment with ceftriaxone is effective for gonococcal tysonitis.

A drug candidate for Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease, PBT2, can be repurposed to render Neisseria gonorrhoeae susceptible to natural cationic antimicrobial peptides

BACKGROUND

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a Gram-negative bacterial pathogen that causes gonorrhoea. No vaccine is available to prevent gonorrhoea and the emergence of MDR N. gonorrhoeae strains represents an immediate public health threat.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate whether PBT2/zinc may sensitize MDR N. gonorrhoeae to natural cationic antimicrobial peptides.

METHODS

MDR strains that contain differing resistance mechanisms against numerous antibiotics were tested in MIC assays. MIC assays were performed using the broth microdilution method according to CLSI guidelines in a microtitre plate. Serially diluted LL-37 or PG-1 was tested in combination with a sub-inhibitory concentration of PBT2/zinc. Serially diluted tetracycline was also tested with sub-inhibitory concentrations of PBT2/zinc and LL-37. SWATH-MS proteomic analysis of N. gonorrhoeae treated with PBT2/zinc, LL-37 and/or tetracycline was performed to determine the mechanism(s) of N. gonorrhoeae susceptibility to antibiotics and peptides.

RESULTS

Sub-inhibitory concentrations of LL-37 and PBT2/zinc synergized to render strain WHO-Z susceptible to tetracycline, whereas the killing effect of PG-1 and PBT2/zinc was additive. SWATH-MS proteomic analysis suggested that PBT2/zinc most likely leads to a loss of membrane integrity and increased protein misfolding and, in turn, results in bacterial death.

CONCLUSIONS

Here we show that PBT2, a candidate Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease drug, can be repurposed to render MDR N. gonorrhoeae more susceptible to the endogenous antimicrobial peptides LL-37 and PG-1. In the presence of LL-37, PBT2/zinc can synergize with tetracycline to restore tetracycline susceptibility to gonococci resistant to this antibiotic.

[Sexually transmitted infections and male fertility]

BACKGROUND

Sexually transmitted infections (STI) are common worldwide and can cause impairment of fertility. In women pelvic inflammatory disease with subsequent tubal sterility is well-documented but the influence of STI on male fertility is still controversely discussed OBJECTIVE: The effects of various bacterial and viral STI on male fertility are discussed.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

An evaluation of the international literature up to 30 April 2018 was carried out including studies on larger collectives from the Asiatic region.

RESULTS

There is still an inconsistent picture of the influence of various bacterial and viral STI on male fertility. Direct or indirect evidence of the impact of a pathogen alone on the quality of ejaculates could not be clearly demonstrated; however, there are indications of a negative effect by Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma species in large Asiatic collectives. The transmission of viral pathogens, such as human papillomavirus (HPV), herpes simplex virus (HSV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) possible impairs the success of assisted reproductive techniques. In contrast, manifest inflammatory processes of the male genital tract caused by STI (in particular Chlamydia and gonococci) or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections often result in impairment of sperm qualtity.

CONCLUSION

In cases of male fertility disorders a microbiological clarification is recommended. Further studies on the effect of STI on male fertility in larger collectives are necessary, particularly for Caucasian populations. The utilization of existing preventive measures, such as screening for Chlamydia in young women and HPV vaccination also for young males, should be intensively promoted.