Asymptomatic Gonorrhea, the Gonococcal Carrier State, and Gonococcemia in Men

GONOCOCCEMIA occurring in the male without symptoms of gonococcal urethritis is an uncommonly reported phenomenon. Gonococcal septicemia in men has generally been associated with recent or concomitant acute gonorrhea,1,2whereas gonococcemia is women frequently develops in asymptomatic carriers ofNeisseria gonorrhoeae. Recent observations indicate that males, like females, can acquire asymptomatic gonorrhea and carry gonococci covertly in their urogenital tracts despite apparently successful therapy.3,4Diagnosis of gonococcal septicemia is facilitated by recognition of the characteristic clinical features; fever, arthropathy, and specific skin lesions.5This report describes a male patient with bacteriologically proved gonococcemia in the absence of urogenital signs and symptoms. Report of a Case A 26-year-old Negro man was admitted to USAF Hospital Andrews on May 5, 1965, for recurrent fever, polyarthralgia, and a skin eruption of nine weeks' duration. His health has been excellent except for gonococcal urethritis treated with one injection of an unknown