title: Differing Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacterial loads in the pharynx and rectum in men who have sex with men: implications for gonococcal detection, transmission, and control.
abstract: The bacterial loads for gonococcal infections of the pharynx and rectum were determined among men with male sexual partners. The median bacterial load for rectal infections (18,960 copies/swab) was significantly higher than the load for pharyngeal infections (2,100 copies/swab; P = 0.001). Bacterial loads among men with symptomatic proctitis were strikingly high (median, 278,000 copies/swab).
authors.affiliation: Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, 580 Swanston Street, Carlton, Victoria, Australia 3053.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bissessor
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Tabrizi
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Fairley
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Danielewski
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Whitton
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bird
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garland
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D058491:Bacterial Load; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D011349:Proctitis / Q000382:microbiology; D012007:Rectum / Q000382:microbiology*; D055815:Young Adult