Isolation of Neisseria meningitidis from the urethra, cervix, and anal canal: further observations.

Neisseria meningitidis was recovered from the urethra of nine and from the anal canal of seven men, and from the cervix of two women. Twelve of the 16 men were admitted homosexuals. Seven men had no symptoms, while the remainder had mild to moderate symptoms. One woman was asymptomatic and the other was in hospital with acute salpingitis. Reports of previous isolations of meningococci from the urethra, cervix, or anal canal are reviewed. It is concluded that in men, these infections are usually mild and self-limited, but in women, meningococcal genital infections frequently proceed to severe disease.