Gonococcal meningitis

Gonococcal meningitis is a rare, severe central nervous system manifestation of disseminated gonococcal infection caused by the bacterium *Neisseria gonorrhoeae*

Gonococcal meningitis is a rare, severe central nervous system manifestation of disseminated gonococcal infection caused by the bacterium *Neisseria gonorrhoeae* It typically occurs when mucosal colonization—most commonly in the urogenital tract, pharynx, or rectum—spreads hematogenously to seed the leptomeninges, presenting disproportionately in sexually active adolescents and young adults or individuals with terminal complement deficiencies Pathophysiologically, bacterial invasion across the b...

It typically occurs when mucosal colonization—most commonly in the urogenital tract, pharynx, or rectum—spreads hematogenously to seed the leptomeninges, presenting disproportionately in sexually active adolescents and young adults or individuals with terminal complement deficiencies

Pathophysiologically, bacterial invasion across the blood-brain barrier triggers acute meningeal inflammation and purulent cerebrospinal fluid alterations Clinically, affected patients develop classic signs of bacterial meningitis, including fever, headache, nuchal rigidity, and altered mental status, frequently co-occurring with characteristic systemic features of dissemination such as tenosynovitis, polyarthralgias, or petechial to pustular skin lesions