One gram of cefoxitin cures uncomplicated gonococcal urethritis caused by penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG)

Sex Transm Dis. 1983 Jul-Sep;10(3):135-7. doi: 10.1097/00007435-198307000-00007.

Abstract

Therapy of disease caused by penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae with lower-than-standard doses of cefoxitin was evaluated. A pilot study showed that doses of greater than or equal to 1 g were adequate, whereas 500-mg doses consistently failed. After the pilot study, 89 men with gonorrhea were treated with 1 g of cefoxitin given intramuscularly plus 1 g of probenecid given orally. Of the 89 men, 86 were cured. Sixty per cent were infected with penicillin-resistant strains of N. gonorrhoeae. The three men who were culture-positive on follow-up had been sexually reexposed, whereas none of those with negative cultures had had reexposure. These clinical results indicate that a treatment regimen of 1 g of parenteral cefoxitin plus 1 g of oral probenecid appears to be as effective as the standard 2-g dose. Regimens using doses lower than 1 g are ineffective.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Cefoxitin / administration & dosage*
  • Cefoxitin / therapeutic use
  • Gonorrhea / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Naval Medicine
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae / enzymology
  • Penicillinase / biosynthesis
  • Pilot Projects
  • Spectinomycin / therapeutic use
  • Urethritis / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Cefoxitin
  • Spectinomycin
  • Penicillinase