Isolation of Neisseria meningitidis in urogenital/rectal infections.

In 9 cases (6 men, 3 women) during 1975 we have isolated N. meningitidis from routine samples from urogenital/rectal locations to be examined for gonococci by culture. One of the men harboured meningococci in the rectum, the other 5 in the urethra. Two of the women had meningococci in the cervix and one in the urethra. Of the meningococci isolated, one belonged to serogroup A, 6 to group B and 2 to group C. Six of the patients, 4 men and 2 women, who attended the Department of Venereal Diseases, are described in greater detail. Of these, only one had symptoms. The meningococci disappeared spontaneously in 5 cases, whilst a man with unsymptomatic infection still harboured meningococci in the rectum after one month. Two of the 4 men were homosexual.