Cultural proof of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in synovial fluid in disseminated gonococcal infection.

Disseminated gonococcal infection is not too rare, and joint involvement is one of its prominent features. Although diagnosis in general is based on clinical findings and microbiological examination of the genitals and sometimes blood, there are cases in which exact diagnosis can only be made after the investigation of synovial effusion. An observation of this kind is presented, and the general value of the aspiration of synovial fluid in disseminated gonococcal infection is discussed. Special interest is also given to the possible coincidence of disseminated gonococcal infection and other sexually transmitted diseases as for example trichomoniasis, both of which were found in our case.