In disseminated gonococcal infection, spinal involvement is:

In disseminated gonococcal infection, spinal involvement is:

• A. Common
• B. Not described
• C. Always involved
• D. Rarely involved

Answer: (D)

Spinal involvement in disseminated gonococcal infection is rare. DGI typically presents with arthritis-dermatitis features—migratory joint pain, tenosynovitis, and dermatitis—due to gonococcal spread to peripheral joints and soft tissues. Extension to the spine would mean vertebral osteomyelitis or discitis from bacteremia, which is uncommon and mainly reported in isolated cases or specific risk situations. So the spine is not a common or universal site in DGI, making spinal involvement best described as rare.

Spinal involvement in disseminated gonococcal infection is rare. DGI typically presents with arthritis-dermatitis features—migratory joint pain, tenosynovitis, and dermatitis—due to gonococcal spread to peripheral joints and soft tissues. Extension to the spine would mean vertebral osteomyelitis or discitis from bacteremia, which is uncommon and mainly reported in isolated cases or specific risk situations. So the spine is not a common or universal site in DGI, making spinal involvement best described as rare.