Single-dose treatment of uncomplicated gonococcal urethritis: a comparison of cefonicid and penicillin.

Abstract

Cefonicid, a parenterally administered semisynthetic cephalosporin, produces high and sustained serum levels in humans. It is active in vitro against Neisseria gonorrhoeae, including beta-lactamase-producing strains. Therefore, the efficacy of cefonicid in treatment of men with uncomplicated gonococcal urethritis was evaluated in a two-phase study. Initially, 58 men were treated intramuscularly with 1 g of cefonicid. There were four failures among the 50 patients who could be evaluated. In the second phase (a double-blind study), 57 men received either 1.0 g of cefonicid or 4.8 x 10(6) units of procaine penicillin G plus 1.0 g of probenecid. Among 17 men treated with penicillin, there were two failures; among the 33 cefonicid-treated patients, there was only one failure. Thus, 78 (94%) of 83 patients receiving cefonicid were cured. Of the 85 pretreatment and four posttreatment isolates tested, 31 were inhibited by less than 0.0625 microgram of penicillin/ml and 87 were inhibited by less than 1.0 microgram/ml. Twenty-eight of the 89 isolates were inhibited by less than 0.0625 microgram of cefonicid/ml and 88, by less than 1.0 microgram of cefonicid/ml. It is concluded that 1.0 g of cefonicid given intramuscularly is effective therapy for uncomplicated gonococcal urethritis.

• Authors: W C Duncan, M E McBride
• Journal: Sexually transmitted diseases (Sex Transm Dis) 1982 Apr-Jun Vol. 9 Issue 2 Pg. 93-5 ISSN: 0148-5717 [Print] United States
• PMID: 7101088 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Controlled Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Cephalosporins
• Penicillin G Procaine
• Cefamandole
• Cefonicid
• Probenecid

Topics

• Cefamandole (administration & dosage, analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Cefonicid
• Cephalosporins (therapeutic use)
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Gonorrhea (drug therapy)
• Humans
• Male
• Penicillin G Procaine (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Probenecid (administration & dosage)
• Urethritis (drug therapy, microbiology)