Fetal gonorrhea with deep tissue infection occurring in utero

An unusual case of gonorrhea in utero is reported. The 30-week-old fetus died in utero at least four hours prior to delivery. Infection, therefore, occurred by aspiration of infected amniotic contents rather than by the more common route of passage through an infected birth canal. The infection resulted in deep-seated fetal tissue inflammation. Neissseria gonorrhoeae was cultured from maternal and fetal tissues and Gram-negative diplococci were stained in microscopic sections.