Page 339 - Critical Maternity & Newborn Health Nursing

Sites of infection

a) Primary sites

The gonococci infect the columnar and transitional epithelium, so the Primary

sites are:

1- The Urethra and Skene tubules

2- The Endocervix

3- The Bartholin Glands

4- The Rectum. The vagina is protected in the adult by its thick squamous

epithelium and acidic reaction, but it can be infected after abortion, during

childhood and after the menopause. Not all the primary sites are affected at the

same time.

b) Secondary sites

Infection may spread along the lumen to affect:

1) Endometrium

2) Tubes and ovaries

3) Pelvic peritoneum

4) Bladder or pelvis of the kidney.

c) Systemic infection with gonococci

As arthritis, iridocyclitis and gonococcal septicaemia which rarely occurs.

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