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First case report of disseminated gonococcal arthritis in Newfoundland and Labrador
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Nessika Karsenti1, Matthew Nelder2, Jennifer LeMeissurier1,2, Samuel Bourassa-Blanchette1,2 and Robert M. Taylor1,2
Abstract
Introduction. Disseminated gonococcal infections (DGIs) are a rare but often debilitating complication of Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections. Often presenting as arthritis–dermatitis syndrome, true suppurative joint infections are an even more rare form of DGI. Here, we present the first known case of DGI in Newfoundland and Labrador in over 10 years.
Case report. A 50-year-old man who is known to inject drugs with multiple housing and social challenges presented to the emergency department with a 2-day history of an isolated, painful, erythematous knee. After being assessed by orthopaedics and undergoing an operative debridement, intraoperative cultures grew N. gonorrhoeae. He was treated with intravenous ceftriaxone, and his course in hospital was complicated by inadequate pain control and a lack of stable housing.
Conclusion. Although rare, DGIs need to remain on every clinician’s differential for septic arthritis, given the increasing prevalence of gonorrhoeal infections in Canada, particularly in Newfoundland and Labrador. In addition, patients who are at risk of delaying accessing care, such as people who inject drugs and unhoused individuals, are at higher risk of complicated hospital stays.
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© 2025 The Authors