Using a national guideline: an audit of the management of gonorrhoea in Newcastle upon Tyne

The management of cases of gonorrhoea in the Genitourinary Medicine Departm ent (GUM) of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1999 was audited. The sensitivity of mi croscopy in diagnosis was 90.4% for male urethral gonorrhoea and 26.6% for female genital gonorrhoea. The sensitivity of laboratory culture was 98.5%. Screening for Chlamydia trachomatis co-infection or treating for presumed coinfection was done in 98% of cases of gonorrhoea and the rates of co-infe ction were 36.4% in women and 8% in men. Effective first-line therapy was g iven to 95.4% of cases of genital gonorrhoea. Re-attendance for tests of cu re within one month of treatment was achieved in 68.2%. Discussion of partn er notification was documented in 94.3% of cases of genital gonorrhoea. In 65% of cases of gonorrhoea, there was documented attendance of sexual partn ers. The value of a national guideline with auditable targets is discussed.