Evaluation of ofloxacin in the treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhea

Article Abstract:

In recent years there has been an increase in the number of different strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (N. gonorrhoeae, the organism that causes gonorrhea) that are resistant to treatment with antibiotics, meaning they are not killed by these drugs. Different strains have been identified that are resistant to penicillin and tetracycline, two commonly used antibiotics. Ofloxacin is a relatively new antibiotic that has been shown to be a potent killer of several different strains of N. gonorrhoeae. To determine the effectiveness of ofloxacin, 40 men and 20 women with N. gonorrhoeae infections were treated with a single oral dose (400 milligrams) of ofloxacin (36 men and 13 women were followed up). Ofloxacin was effective in treating all the cases of infection, which were all located in the urethra or cervix. Also, ofloxacin was effective at killing strains of N. gonorrhoeae that were resistant to penicillin and tetracycline. When the dose of ofloxacin required to kill 50 percent of the bacteria was compared with the required doses of penicillin and tetracycline, it was found that ofloxacin was 100 and 450 times more potent than tetracycline or penicillin, respectively. It is concluded that ofloxacin is an effective treatment for N. gonorrhoeae infections. The advantages of ofloxacin are that it can be given in a single oral dose, it has few side effects, and it is effective against strains of N. gonorrhoeae that are resistant to treatment with penicillin and tetracycline. The effectiveness of ofloxacin is similar to that of ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin, two other antibiotics used for treating gonorrhea. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Drug therapy, Gonorrhea, Tetracycline, Tetracyclines, Penicillin, Penicillins, Ofloxacin

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Susceptibility of isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to penicillin and tetracycline in Brooklyn, 1988-1992

Article Abstract:

Drug resistance to tetracycline and penicillin among certain strains of Neisseria (N.) gonorrhoeae appears to be a significant problem that warrants continued surveillance. N. gonorrhoeae is the organism that causes gonorrhea. Drug resistance occurs when an organism is no longer susceptible to the effects of a drug. The effects of drugs on 500 N. gonorrhoeae isolates collected between 1988 and 1992 were evaluated. Between 34.7% and 44.9% of strains tested in 1988, 1989 and 1990 were penicillinase-producing strains (resistant to penicillin). However, between 1991 and 1992 only 14.3% and 15%, respectively, were penicillinase-producing. One percent of the isolates had chromosomally mediated penicillin resistance in 1988 compared to 22.4% of those from 1992. High level tetracycline resistance was identified in 26% of the strains from 1988. However, between 1989 and 1992 only 8.2% to 14.8% of the strains had high level resistance to tetracycline. Chromosomally mediated tetracycline resistance was identified in 2% of the isolates from 1991 and 25% of those from 1992. However, all of the strains were susceptible to ofloxacin, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, cefixime, cefuroxime, trospectomycin or spectinomycin.

Drug resistance in microorganisms, Microbial drug resistance, Neisseria gonorrhoeae

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Evaluation of vaginal tampons for collection of specimens for detection of chlamydial infection

Article Abstract:

Vaginal tampons may not provide adequate specimens for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis, as compared to swabs of specimen collected by doctors. Researchers compared the detection rates of C. trachomatis in 69 women using both patient-inserted tampons and swabs of the cervix taken by the doctor. One swab from each patient was cultured for C. trachomatis, and another was tested with the Testpack Chlamydia test. The tampon was also tested with Testpack. The culture obtained from the swab was the most accurate in detecting C. trachomatis with a rate of 75.4% (52 of 69 patients). Testpack analysis of the swabs yielded a detection rate of 63.8%, and Testpack analysis of the tampons detected 52.2% of cases of C. trachomatis. Tampons may not have collected enough of a specimen because they may not have been placed close enough to the cervix.

Diagnosis, Chlamydia infections, Tampons

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