Related Experiment Videos
Acute gonococcal arthritis: an unusual host and pathogen combination
D A Lewis1, L M Pollock, J Randell
1Department of Microbiology, St Andrew's Hospital, London.
Journal of Clinical Pathology
|January 1, 1995
Summary
This case study highlights an unusual presentation of gonococcal arthritis in a 76-year-old man, featuring a resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae strain. The patient successfully responded to ciprofloxacin and penicillin therapy.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Gonococcal arthritis typically affects young women and is associated with penicillin-hypersusceptible Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
- Commonly isolated strains exhibit specific auxotype (arginine, hypoxanthine, uracil) and serotype (protein 1A).
Observation:
- A 76-year-old male traveler from India presented with acute oligoarticular arthritis.
- Arthrocentesis revealed Neisseria gonorrhoeae with chromosomal resistance to penicillin.
- The isolated strain demonstrated atypical characteristics: proline requirement and protein 1B-1 serovar.
Findings:
- This case presents an atypical host (elderly male) and pathogen profile for gonococcal arthritis.
- The Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolate exhibited antimicrobial resistance and unusual growth/serotyping characteristics.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of considering atypical presentations of common infections in diverse patient populations.
- Underscores the evolving landscape of Neisseria gonorrhoeae antimicrobial resistance and its clinical impact.
- Suggests the need for broader diagnostic considerations in travelers presenting with joint inflammation.