Gonococcemia (disseminated)

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Circulatory system

Gonococcal bacteremia

There are two aspects of treating a sexually transmitted disease, especially one as easily spread as gonorrhea. The first aspect is to cure the affected person. The second is to locate and test all of the other sexual contacts and to treat them to prevent further spread of the disease.

That is why mandatory reporting has been instituted and has, until recently, held the number of cases of gonorrhea at a low level. However, the number of cases is once again rising.

Fluoroquinolone resistance in strains of gonorrhea has been increasing over the last 5 years, especially in Hawaii and areas on the West Coast. Because of this, a new standardized treatment regimen has been recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Instead of the old penicillin treatment, gonorrhea is now treated by a large number of new and very potent antibiotics, including ceftriaxone and other cephalosporins. For gonococcemia, treatment is usually begun with intravenous, rather than oral, antibiotics. Since chlamydia frequently occurs along with gonorrhea, treatment for chlamydia is often given at the same time.

A follow-up visit after treatment to recheck cultures and confirm the cure of infection is important.

The outcome is expected to be good when compliance with therapy is maintained.

• Gonococcal endocarditis
• Gonococcal meningitis

Call your health care provider if you have symptoms suggestive of disseminated gonococcemia.

Review Date: 06/15/2005
Reviewed By: Monica Gandhi, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.