Intensive Care Medicine (ICM) Practice Exam

Which is the most likely consequence of disseminated gonorrhea?

1. Acute rheumatic fever

2. Reactive arthritis

3. Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy

4. Chronic prostatitis

The correct answer is: Reactive arthritis

Disseminated gonorrhea, often resulting from untreated or inadequately treated gonococcal infections, can lead to a significant immune response that may affect the joints. The most likely consequence of disseminated gonorrhea is reactive arthritis, which can occur when the immune system responds to gonococcal infection. This condition is characterized by the sudden onset of arthritis, often affecting multiple joints, and can cause significant pain and swelling. The bacteria can trigger an inflammatory response that can lead to joint damage. While reactive arthritis is classically associated with other pathogens as well, in the context of disseminated gonorrhea, it is one of the more common consequences observed. In contrast, conditions such as acute rheumatic fever are more commonly associated with streptococcal infections, not gonococcal infections. Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy typically arises from factors such as severe infection or trauma, rather than from gonorrhea directly. Chronic prostatitis is a long-standing inflammation of the prostate and is a separate condition that may arise from a variety of infections, but it is not a direct consequence of disseminated gonorrhea. This context highlights why reactive arthritis is recognized as the most likely outcome after dissemination of the gonoc