Sensitivity of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to penicillin and other antibiotics. Studies carried out in Toronto during the period 1961 to 1968.

Activity in vitro of ten antimicrobial agents against Neisseria gonorrhoeae. A study of the correlation between the sensitivities.

“…Numerous publications on this subject have appeared in the last 15 years, especially in the English language, and these have been excellently reviewed (Sparling, 1972). Most of the authors noted strong positive correlations between the sensitivities of gonococcal strains to various antibacterial agents, such as penicillin, ampicillin, erythromycin, spiramycin, tetracycline, streptomycin, fusidic acid and rifampicin (Reyn andBentzon, 1968 and1969;Phillips, Rimmer, Ridley, Lynn, andWarren, 1970, Maness andSparling, 1973;Givan and Keyl, 1974;Stolz, Zwart, and Michel, 1974;Maier, Beilstein, and Zubrzycki, 1974). The hypothesis that a common genetic basis is responsible for resistance to multiple antibacterial agents (Maness and Sparling, 1973) indicated a need for more knowledge of the genetics and biochemistry of the antibiotic resistance of the gonococcus and recently, linked genetic loci of resistance have been determined (Sarubbi, Blackman, and Sparling, 1974;Maier, Zubrzycki, and Coyle, 1975).…”

Properties of ß-lactamase from Neisseria gonorrhoeae

“…Remarkably small doses (e.g., 100,000 units altogether) were used to cure gonorrhoea (Mahoney et al 1945), an occurrence reflecting the high susceptibility of the gonococcus to penicillin (Reyn et al 1958). During the subsequent decades a gradual increase in gonococcal resistance to penicillin, documented in the United States (Martin et al 1970) and elsewhere (Amies 1969, Reyn 1961, Arya & Phillips 1979, needed increases in the dose of penicillin as well as the addition of probenecid to maintain effective therapy (Holmes et al 1973, Kaufman et al 1976). In the United States, however, a reduction in gonococcal resistance to penicillin has been witnessed since 1972 (Reynolds et al 1976), and in 1976 a substantial decline in the rate of increase in morbidity from gonorrhoea was observed (CDC 1977).…”

Penicillin-insensitive gonococci in the Bolton area. Preponderance in young women and immigrants.

“…The total of 93 cases includes three of re-infection and excludes two treated from the start with streptomycin for reasons Table. In patients with sensitive strains, treatment, whether with penicillin or with tetracycline, was effective. In patients with insensitive strains, penicillin, in the dosage used, often failed to cure, and tetracyline, though more effective, also showed an increased failure rate, which would suggest a correlation between penicillin and tetracycline insensitivity such as has been shown in vitro by Amies (1969) in Canada and by Phillips, Rimmer, Ridley, Lynn, and Warren (1970) in London.…”