[Gonococcal septicemia. 1 case]

This paper describes a case of disseminated gonococcal infection, a rare disease in France. A 41 year-old woman was hospitalised with acute polyarthritis and characteristics skin lesions. Jaundice and liver function abnormalities are difficult to interpret due to a preexisting alcoholic cirrhosis. The possibility of an endocarditis is raised because of a systolic murmur heard at the base of the heart. Bacteriological identification of N. Gonorrhoeae is carried out in blood culture; it has also been recovered by scrapings of a cutaneous bullae by staining only. Therapy was instituted by daily intravenous penicillin G sodium 50 000 000 u. and intramuscular gentamicin 160 mg for 45 days. There resulted good clinical and bacteriological response. The elements of clinical and bacteriological diagnosis, as well as the therapy are discussed.