Gonococcal Infection of the Glans Skin, a Rare Local Complication of Gonorrhea: A Clinical Study of 13 Cases

Abstract

The study aimed to understand the incidence, site, skin lesion manifestations, and treatment of gonococcal infection of the glans skin. We enrolled men with gonococcal infection of the glans skin and men with gonococcal urethritis from January 2014 to February 2020. Demographic data, site of onset, and skin lesion manifestations were recorded for all patients. Ceftriaxone (1 g) was injected intramuscularly once daily for 5 days in patients with lesions comprising abscesses or nodules. A single dose of ceftriaxone (1 g) was injected intramuscularly in patients with pustules. Incision and drainage were performed in patients with nonruptured abscesses. Thirteen patients had gonococcal infection of the glans skin (0.65%; 95% confidence interval = [0.30, 1.01]) among 1,989 patients with gonococcal urethritis. Mean age was 35.48 ± 2.37 (range = 26–45) years. Nonmarital sexual behavior patterns were genital–genital in eight patients (61.54%) and genital–oral in five patients (38.46%). All skin lesions occurred on the ventral side of the glans. Eleven patients (84.62%) had a single lesion and two (15.38%) had multiple lesions. The lesions manifested as abscesses in five patients (38.46%), nodules in five patients (38.46%), and pustules in three patients (23.08%). All lesions exhibited tenderness. All 13 patients were cured after treatment. The study shows that gonococcal infection of the glans skin is a rare local complication of gonorrhea. Lesions often occur on the ventral side of the glans, presenting as abscesses, nodules, and pustules. Ceftriaxone treatment was effective for gonococcal infection of the glans skin.