Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection caused by gram-negative diplococci, Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Disseminated gonorrhea is diagnosed infrequently, partly due to low suspicion at the time of presentation, and at times, due to overlapping symptoms associated with non-infectious conditions like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this article, we present a 42-year-old sexually active female with knee pain and swelling, fever, and rash. Knee aspirate showed the presence of monosodium urate crystals, and the synovial culture grew gram-negative diplococci, requiring multiple joint washouts. The urine nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) was indeterminate. She was treated with high-dose intravenous ceftriaxone for one week post-joint washout with rapid improvement in her condition and resolution of the rash.
Keywords: arthritis; naat; nucleic acid amplification test; sexually transmitted infection; skin rash.
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