EPIDEMIOLOGIC OBSERVATIONS OF ADOLESCENTS WITH NEISSERIA-GONORRHOEAE GENITAL INFECTIONS TREATED AT A CHILDRENS-HOSPITAL

Study Objective: To describe adolescents with Neisseria gonorrhoeae ge nital infections. Design and Participants: The charts of all adolescen ts (12-22 years old) with N. gonorrhoeae genital infections were revie wed from September 1, 1989 to February 28, 1990. Patients were followe d for 8-14 months from initial infection to determine the number of re peat N. gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis infections. Setting: The outpatient clinics of a pediatric hospital. The log books of the bact eriology laboratory at Children's Hospital, Boston were reviewed to de termine all adolescents with N. gonorrhoeae infection visiting any cli nic or the Emergency Ward. Results and Conclusions: Ninety-six adolesc ents with 107 genital N. gonorrhoeae infections were seen in the initi al 6-month interval. Compared with 29 males, the 67 females were less likely to be treated at the initial visit, were more likely to have co unseling documented, to be rescreened at follow-up, to have more follo w-up cultures in the 8 to 14-month interval, and to be followed for a longer duration. Twenty-three percent of patients had one or more addi tional gonococcal infections and 19% had further chlamydial genital in fections over the short-term follow-up. Adolescents with N. gonorrhoea e infection should be considered at high risk for repeat infection and screened frequently for N. gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis, as well as counseled about risk reduction.