The high frequency of pharyngeal gonococcal infection in a prenatal clinic population.

In a prospective study to determine the relative frequency of isolation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from the throat, rectum, and urogenital tract in a pregnant population, 31 episodes of gonococcal infection at one or more sites were found in 29 pregnant patients (4.0% of 723 prenatal clinic patients). The throat was the only positive culture site in 11 of the 31 gonococcal infections. Cultures obtained on the first prenatal clinic visit detected only 71% of the gonococcal infections. Pharyngeal gonococcal infection occurred in 7 of 19 patients who denied the practice of fellatio. All patients were cured with the antibiotic regimens used. These data suggest that when selecting sites for culture of N gonorrhoeae in pregnant women, at least the pharynx be cultured in addition to the endocervix, and that patients be reexamined systematically during the entire course of pregnancy. ( JAMA 230:568-570, 1974)