Multifocal Cellulitis due to Disseminated Neisseria Gonorrhoeae in a Male Patient

Abstract

We report a rare case of disseminated gonococcal infection in a 37-year-old man presenting with multifocal cellulitis. The patient presented with fever and painful swelling of the right foot and left hand, and was admitted to our hospital. CT scanning of the extremities revealed multifocal cellulitis. Transthoracic echocardiography findings were normal, and piperacilin/tazoactam therapy was initiated. On antibiotic day 4, Neisseria gonorrhoeae was cultured from a purulent effusion collected from a focal site. Chlamydia trachomatis was detected in urine samples by PCR. We made the diagnosis of multifocal cellulitis due to N. gonorrhoeae in a patient with chlamydia urethritis. The antibiotic agent was changed from piperacilin/tazobactam to ceftriaxone. Levofloxacin was also administered for chlamydia urethritis. By admission day 14, all lesions had resolved and administration of antibiotic agents was terminated. Disseminated gonococcal infection, although rare, should be included in the differential diagnosis of all sexually active patients who present with multifocal cellulitis - also a rare condition, particularly in light of the fact that in recent times, patterns of sexual activity have changed, which was a pertinent factor in this case.




J Clin Med Res. 2014;6(3):215-217
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/jocmr1732w