Gonorrhoea
Health alert
Status: Active
Last updated: 1 October 2024
Issue date: 20 April 2023
Issued by: Chief Health Officer
Issued to: Health professionals
Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection which most commonly infects the urethra and the cervix but it can also infect the anus and throat.
Current situation
Since January 2023 the remote Northern Territory (NT) has seen an increase in cases of penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG) and an outbreak was declared. Cases and their sexual contacts have been found across the NT.
When Neisseria gonorrhoeae produces the enzyme called penicillinase it is resistant to penicillin treatment (including ZAP packs containing amoxicillin, probenecid and azithromycin).
While penicillin resistance has been prevalent for some time in most other parts of Australia, remote NT historically had low rates of penicillin resistance. With the appearance of more PPNG positive samples, first line treatment recommendations have changed.
Note: The Centre for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations for first line treatment of all cases of suspected or confirmed uncomplicated genital and anorectal gonorrhoea across the NT is given in the current health alert.
Alerts to health professionals
- Health alert penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae and treatment recommendations for gonorrhoea PDF (735.6 KB) (1 October 2024)
- Health alert penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae and treatment recommendations for gonorrhoea PDF (735.4 KB) (7 March 2024)
- Health alert penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae and changes to treatment recommendations NT wide PDF (669.5 KB) (23 Oct 2023)
- Health alert penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae PDF (211.9 KB) (19 July 2023)
- Health alert penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae PDF (945.6 KB) (20 April 2023)
Notifiable disease
Gonorrhoea is a notifiable disease.
Sexual health information for professionals
Follow your clinical guidelines relevant to your setting such as the below resources.
| Type | Resource | Author |
|---|---|---|
| Document | NT guidelines for the management of sexually transmitted infections in the primary health care setting | NT Health |
| Document | CARPA Remote primary health care manuals | Remote PHC manuals |
| Document | Australian STI management guidelines for use in primary care | ASHM |
| Tropical Health Orientation Manual for health practitioners in Northern Australia | Gonorrhoea | Centre for Remote Health |
Information for the public
| Type | Resource | Author |
|---|---|---|
| Webpage | Gonorrhoea | Health direct |
| Webpage | Gonorrhoea | Stay STI Free |
Get a sexual health check-up
| Organisation | Locations | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Clinic 34 | Darwin region, Katherine, Nhulunbuy, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs | Northern Territory Government |
| Family planning welfare clinic | Darwin region | Family planning |
| GP | Various locations | Health direct |
| Remote health services | Remote communities | Northern Territory Government |
| Aboriginal medical services | Remote and urban locations | AMSANT |
Find out where to get free condoms in the Northern Territory on the Northern Territory Government website.
Contact
Contact the Public Health Unit’s Centre for Disease Control.
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