Gonococcosis, also known as gonorrhea, is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The gonococcus is a gram-negative diplococcus that grows singly or in pairs and is exclusively a human pathogen. It has a unique feature of polyploidy, with an average of three genome copies per coccal unit, which allows for high antigenic variation and survival in its host. Gonococci are oxidase-positive, a characteristic that helps distinguish them from other Neisseria species.

Gonococcal infections can present as localized infections (e.g., urethritis, cervicitis, proctitis) or as disseminated infections, which can lead to conditions like gonococcal arthritis. Disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI) can manifest as skin lesions, tenosynovitis, or septic arthritis. The incidence of DGI has decreased over time, partly due to better treatment options.

Diagnosis is typically confirmed through culture or nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs). Treatment usually involves a single-dose regimen of an appropriate antibiotic, such as ceftriaxone, often combined with treatment for chlamydial infection if co-infection is suspected. Sexual partners should also be treated, and expedited partner therapy may be considered in some cases.