Gonococcal Conjunctivitis: A Case Report of an Unusual Mode of Transmission

Outside of the newborn period, development of gonococcal conjunctivitis is rare and predominantly occurs through autoinoculation. We report an unusual case of gonococcal conjunctivitis in a young woman exposed through direct inoculation.

A 19-year-old woman presented with purulent ocular discharge, severe pain, and decreased vision unresponsive to topical antibiotics or ganciclovir approximately 3 weeks after accidental ocular exposure to seminal fluid during unprotected oral sex. Cultured ocular drainage grew Neisseria gonorrhea; vaginal and throat cultures were negative. She was successfully treated with ceftriaxone and doxycycline for 10 days.

Clinicians should be aware of the potential for vision-threatening gonococcal conjunctivitis from exposure during sexual contact.