In simple words: Gonococcal sepsis is a serious infection that occurs when gonorrhea bacteria spread through the bloodstream. It can cause a variety of symptoms, including fever, chills, rapid heart rate, and difficulty breathing, and may lead to life-threatening complications if left untreated.

Gonococcal sepsis is a systemic infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which spreads from a localized gonococcal infection (most commonly genitourinary) to the bloodstream.

Example 1: A 25-year-old male presents with fever, chills, and migratory joint pain. He has a history of untreated gonorrhea. Blood cultures are positive for N. gonorrhoeae, confirming the diagnosis of gonococcal sepsis., A 30-year-old female with a recent diagnosis of gonorrhea develops fever, rapid heart rate, and hypotension. She exhibits a petechial rash on her extremities. Her condition is diagnosed as gonococcal sepsis., A newborn infant develops fever, lethargy, and poor feeding shortly after birth. The mother has a history of gonorrhea. Testing confirms gonococcal sepsis in the infant.

Documentation for A54.86 should include evidence of gonococcal infection (e.g., positive culture, PCR test), signs and symptoms of systemic infection (e.g., fever, chills, hypotension), and any associated complications (e.g., arthritis, endocarditis).