Ace the Teen Treatment Challenge 2026 – Elevate Your Pediatrics Game!

Gonorrhea is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a Gram-negative diplococcus that infects the genitourinary tract. This organism is typically transmitted sexually and is often seen inside neutrophils on Gram stain of purulent discharge. In the lab, it’s oxidase positive and grows on selective media such as Thayer-Martin agar. Treponema pallidum is the spirochete that causes syphilis; a virus would refer to various viral sexually transmitted infections; a protozoan like Trichomonas vaginalis causes trichomoniasis. The specific cause of gonorrhea is Neisseria gonorrhoeae.