Gonococcal osteomyelitis of the shoulder extended from gonococcal arthritis: diagnosis by a polymerase chain reaction assay

Abstract

Gonorrhea is the most common sexually transmitted disease that involves the genitourinary tract, rectum, and pharynx. Gonococcal arthritis is the most common complication of disseminated gonococcal infection, which consists of a group of clinical syndromes including tenosynovitis, dermatitis, meningitis, myopericarditis, and clinical sepsis associated with the isolation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. 16 Masi A.T Eisensitein B.I Disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI) and gonococcal arthritis (GVA). II. Clinical manifestations, diagnosis, complications, treatment, and prevention. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 1981; 10: 173-197 Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (59) Google Scholar Unfortunately, the rate of obtaining positive blood or synovial fluid cultures is not high. However, it is recommended that antibiotic agents be used promptly in patients with septic arthritis, because a delay in treatment can rapidly lead to joint destruction, resulting in permanent joint disability. Furthermore, whereas non-gonococcal arthritis is frequently associated with osteomyelitis, gonococcal osteomyelitis is rare. We report a case of a young woman who had gonococcal arthritis with contiguous osteomyelitis diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay.