Low Antibiotic Resistance of Gonococci Causing Disseminated Infection

Abstract

DISSEMINATED gonococcal infection associated with the syndrome of gonococcal arthritis and dermatitis occurs in 1 to 3 per cent of patients with gonorrhea.^{1 , 2} Host factors that may predispose to development of gonococcal bacteremia include menstruation, pregnancy, hepatitis and pharyngeal gonococcal infection.^{3 , 4} The simultaneous occurrence of disseminated infection in sexual partners^{5 , 6} and in a neonate and his mother⁷ suggests that certain strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae may possess increased virulence. Although several methods of typing gonococci have been described, none have previously been evaluated in epidemiologic studies, and no unique characteristics of strains producing disseminated gonococcal infection have been recognized.In the . . .