Features of the epidemiological situation with acute urogenital gonococcal infection in the Perm Region for the period from 2010 to 2021

Abstract

BACKGROUND: According to WHO, more than 60 million people get sick with gonococcal infection every year. Recently, there has been a decrease in the incidence of gonorrhea in Russia. However, in addition to Neisseria gonorrhoeae, other microorganisms may also cause acute urethritis. However, there is no record of morbidity for them. AIM: This study analyzes the epidemiological situation of the incidence of аcute genital gonococcal infection and urethral nonspecific inflammatory diseases in the Perm Region for the period 20102021. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comparative retrospective analysis of the incidence of аcute genital gonococcal infection and urogenital tract nonspecific inflammatory diseases among patients of the Perm Region was performed using the annually published data of official statistics. The data on the incidence of genital tract nonspecific inflammatory diseases were obtained from outpatient patient records of three clinics in the city of Perm. Epidemiological and statistical information processing methods were used in the work, and the Pearson coefficient was used for correlation analysis. RESULTS: The long-term dynamics of the incidence of аcute genital gonococcal infection among the population of the Perm Region was characterized by a pronounced downward trend. However, in recent years, the number of genital tract infections in women and men has increased. The decrease in the incidence of аcute genital gonococcal infection is most likely due to changes in the properties of N. gonorrhoeae, causing significantly more difficult laboratory diagnoses and often leading to false negative results. In addition, the high polymorphism of cultural, morphological, and biochemical properties of conditionally pathogenic microorganisms further complicates the identification stage of the isolated strains. CONCLUSION: As a result, against the background of a decrease in the incidence of аcute genital gonococcal infection, an increase in the incidence of genital tract nonspecific inflammatory diseases was revealed. The peculiarities of the epidemic process of аcute genital gonococcal infection and urogenital tract and the complexity of laboratory diagnostics of these conditions cause their untimely detection.