Gonorrhea

 Additional Information

• Visit our sexually transmitted infections page for general information about STIs. 

• If you have questions about STIs, or require a free, confidential test, contact our sexual health clinic: 

  • North Bay, Mattawa and Sturgeon Falls 705-474-1400 or 1-800-563-2808 ext. 5289
  • Parry Sound 705-746-5801 ext. 3213

 Screening and Testing Recommendations

Screening

• Screening for gonorrhea is recommended for all sexually active adolescents and adults. 
• Individuals with multiple partners should have repeat screening every 3 to 6 months. 

Complete recommendations can be found in the Sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections: Guides for health professionals.

Diagnostic Testing

• NAAT is the screening test of choice as it offers the highest sensitivity.
• Culture should be collected in addition to NAAT in certain situations.
• Collect samples from ALL body sites that have been exposed:
  • Urogenital testing (first void urine, self-collected or clinician-collected vaginal swab, or cervical swab) for people with genital exposure
  • Pharyngeal swab for people who have performed oral sex or been exposed at this site
  • Rectal swab for people who have had receptive anal sex
• Physical examination is recommended for people with symptoms.
• Test of cure is recommended for all positive sites (e.g. urogenital, pharyngeal, rectal) in all cases. Complete guidance on timing and choice of test can be found here.

For more information on specimen collection and handling, requisition and kit ordering, test frequency and turnaround time, or test methods:

• Public Health Ontario Test Information Index - CT/NG NAAT
• Public Health Ontario Test Information Index - NG Culture, Reference Identification and Susceptibility

 Treatment

• Preferred treatment for uncomplicated gonorrhea in adults and adolescents 10 years of age and older:
  • Ceftriaxone 500 mg IM as a single dose (monotherapy) for ALL uncomplicated infections (urethral, endocervical, vaginal, rectal and pharyngeal)
• Alternative treatment options should only be used if the individual has a severe allergy to cephalosporins or refuses IM injection.
• Concurrent treatment for chlamydia is recommended if chlamydia has not been ruled out by a negative test.

For more information on treatment recommendations including rationale for current recommendation and alternative treatment regimens:

• NAC-STBBI Interim guidance for the treatment of uncomplicated gonococcal infections
• Sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections: Guides for health professionals

 Additional Information

• Preventing ophthalmia neonatorum – Canadian Paediatric Society Position Statement

 Data Sources

• Case counts: Public Health Ontario. Query: Case counts of reportable diseases by public health unit and year. Toronto, ON: Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion; extracted on April 23, 2024.
• Population estimates: Statistics Canada 2014-2022, IntelliHEALTH Ontario, Ministry of Health, extracted on January 16, 2025.
• Population projections: Statistics Canada, 2023, IntelliHEALTH Ontario, Ministry of Health, extracted on April 23, 2024.