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Gonococcal Endocarditis Diagnosed by PCR

Case highlights diagnostic challenges when blood cultures are negative and embolic complications are present

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A 53-year-old man presented with cardiac arrest from ventricular fibrillation, revealing gonococcal infective endocarditis with rapid valvular destruction and systemic embolization. Blood cultures were persistently negative, and diagnosis was established via molecular testing of valvular tissue, identifying Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The case illustrates the challenges of diagnosing this rare but aggressive condition, emphasizing the need for thorough sexual histories and the use of advanced diagnostic techniques, as conventional blood cultures are often ineffective.

Original Source(s)

Gonococcal Endocarditis Diagnosed by PCR

  • by Julie Greenbaum

  • March 25, 2026

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