Neisseria gonorrhoeae can colonize body sites other than the genital tract. One site is the pharynx.
The primary risk factor is unprotected oral sex with someone infected with Neisseria gonorrhoeae. High risk groups include:
(1) men who have sex with men
(2) prostitutes
(3) HIV-positive patients
(4) patients attending an STD clinic
(5) patients with gonococcal urethritis
Most infections are asymptomatic and are only detected by culturing all body sites affected by Neisseria gonorrhoeae in these risk populations. Occasionally patients may be symptomatic with a sore throat and/or pharyngeal erythema.
Gonococcal pharyngitis may be resistant to therapy so careful followup is needed to ensure eradication, especially if a resistant strain is suspected.
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