Brief plain language background
Rates of gonorrhoea, a sexually transmitted infection, are increasing across the world, as well as the number of cases that are resistant to most available antibiotic treatments.
When the bacteria responsible for gonorrhoea enters the eye, it can lead to a potentially blinding eye infection called gonococcal conjunctivitis (GC). Without treatment, GC can progress rapidly and damage the cornea at the front of the eye, which in some case can lead to permanent vision loss.
What problem/knowledge gap does it help address?
Disease surveillance is essential to monitor the bacteria, inform treatment guidelines and aid investigation into cases of treatment failure and resistance.
Currently, there is no data for the incidence of GC in the UK.
Aim of the project
To improve understanding of GC including its antibiotic resistance and factors that may influence this.
This project also aims to further the career progression of the applicant, as amongst other benefits, the research can be used towards an academic qualification.
Key procedures/objectives
- Patients diagnosed with GC will be identified using a nationwide surveillance system (BOSU), which collects anonymised clinical data.
- Test antibiotic resistance of patient’s GC samples.
- Carry out genetic tests of the samples to identify if a strain is causing the rise in cases.
- Increase awareness and understanding of GC biology.
Potential impact on people with sight loss
Improving the understanding of GC and its antibiotic resistance could help inform clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and management of the condition. Determining possible risk factors could help inform public health strategies to minimise cases in the future.