Sexual Health | Bacterial STIs and related conditions | Disseminated Gonorrhoea

Disseminated Gonorrhoea
Session Overview
Description
This session covers recognition, diagnosis and management of disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI) at a specialist level. Current knowledge about pathogenesis of gonococcal infection, including host defence and virulence factors, is discussed.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Recognise the limitations in our understanding of the pathogenesis of DGI
• Recognise the greater frequency of DGI in certain sections of the community
• Recall the epidemiology and varied presentation of DGI
• Recognise the consequences of involvement of organs other than skin and joints
• Select appropriate methods for diagnosis and exclusion of DGI
• Advise on appropriate antibiotic regimens for disseminated gonorrhoea

Prerequisites
Before commencing this session you should complete the following:

• Module 1/Examination of Extra-genital Sites (260-0011)
• Module 2/Diagnosing Gonorrhoea (260-0021)

Following infection at mucosal sites (genital tract, pharynx, rectum), gonorrhea can spread haematogenously causing disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI).

This results in systemic infection which classically manifests as one or more of:

• Rash
• Tenosynovitis
• Arthralgia
• Very rarely endocarditis, meningitis and osteomyelitis