RESUMO
Neisseria gonorrhoeae is an uncommon present-day cause of septic arthritis. It is generally seen in the younger patient population and is often difficult to isolate in the lab. Blood cultures performed as routine work are usually negative, and when positive tend to be seen in the classic form of disseminated gonococcal infection. Here we report a case of acute septic monoarthritis, associated with N. gonorrhoea bacteraemia, in a 67-year-old male patient with multiple chronic comorbidities, who presented with acute pain and swelling at his left elbow, and no associated skin changes. Arthrocentesis findings were consistent with septic arthritis. Blood cultures drawn on admission grew N. gonorrhoeae. Synovial fluid culture was sterile but did exhibit Gram-negative cocci on Gram stain. The patient was started on IV antibiotics, and later underwent incision and drainage with subsequent improvement in symptoms. We thus present an unusual form of disseminated gonococcal infection in the setting of: epidemiology, physical presentation, as well as microbiologic findings. Although less common, DGI should be considered in the differential for septic join in the older adult population, and a sexual history should be obtained in all patients. This patient ultimately had an excellent outcome given his prompt presentation after symptom onset and immediate initiation of medical therapy.