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Sex Transm Infect 2008;84:348-349 doi:10.1136/sti.2008.030817
  • Clinical

Disseminated gonococcal infection in a homosexual man diagnosed by nucleic acid amplification testing from a skin lesion swab

  1. P Read1,
  2. R Abbott2,
  3. P Pantelidis3,
  4. B S Peters1,4,
  5. J A White1
  1. 1
    Department of Genitourinary Medicine and HIV, St Thomas’ Hospital, London, UK
  2. 2
    St John’s Institute of Dermatology, St Thomas’ Hospital, London, UK
  3. 3
    Interstitial Lung Disease Unit, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College School of Medicine, London, UK
  4. 4
    Academic Unit HIV and STDs, Kings College, London, UK
  1. Dr P Read, Department of Genitourinary Medicine, St Thomas’ Hospital, Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1 7EH, UK; phillread{at}doctors.org.uk
  • Accepted 21 May 2008

Abstract

Disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI) often presents a diagnostic challenge. Through the novel application of molecular technology, a case is presented that suggests how the diagnostic sensitivity for this systemic complication of gonococcal infection can be improved. In a typical case of DGI seen in a homosexual man in whom all mucosal and blood specimens were culture negative, nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) helped to confirm the diagnosis. Both throat and skin lesion specimens tested positive for gonococcal DNA and this was confirmed with a supplementary porA pseudogene NAAT. The use of adjuvant NAAT assessment is recommended as part of the diagnostic work-up for suspected DGI cases.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None.

  • Patient consent: Obtained.

  • Contributors: PR and RA wrote the first draft, which was revised, reviewed and amended by BSP and JAW. PP performed the laboratory analysis and provided the paragraph describing the real-time PCR.

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