[Determination of pathogens in blood in disseminated gonococcal infection. Case report and overview of the literature].

Although Neisseria gonorrhoeae has been recognized as causative agent of infectious disease not only of the genital region but also of other organs already at the end of the 19th century, disseminated gonococcal infection as a clinical entity has been defined fairly recently, i.e., during the last decade. In particular, it has been very difficult for a long time to detect Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the blood of patients suffering from this form of gonorrhea. Therefore, the case of a 22-year-old woman is presented who developed fever, arthritis, and pustules and from whose cervix, rectum, and blood Neisseria gonorrhoeae could be grown. Based on the reports in the literature and our own experience indispensable and further desirable diagnostic measures to be adopted in such cases are discussed.