title: Evaluation of ofloxacin in the treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhea.
abstract: In an open study, a single oral dose of 400 mg of ofloxacin was administered to 40 men and 20 women who required treatment for uncomplicated gonococcal infection. Thirty-six men and 13 women were evaluable. Ofloxacin eradicated 49 of 49 urethral or endocervical gonococcal infections and 1 of 1 pharyngeal infection. There were 55 pretreatment isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae available for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Twenty-four (43.6%) produced penicillinase. Eighteen (32.7%) isolates that did not produce penicillinase had penicillin MICs greater than or equal to 1.0 micrograms/mL. Twelve (21.8%) isolates had tetracycline MICs greater than or equal to 16 micrograms/mL. The geometric mean minimal inhibitory concentrations (range) for 55 pretreatment N. gonorrhoeae isolates were: ofloxacin, 0.014 (.0078-.03) micrograms/mL; penicillin, 6.30 (.125-128) micrograms/mL; and tetracycline 1.61 (.03-128) micrograms/mL. There were few side effects. Ofloxacin appears to be an effective and safe oral therapy for the treatment of infections caused by N. gonorrhoeae including infections due to penicillin- and tetracycline-resistant strains.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, State University of New York Health Science Center, Brooklyn 11203.
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cummings
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Covino
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benes
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Draft
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: McCormack
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000187:drug effects; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010406:Penicillins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D010406:Penicillins; D015242:Ofloxacin; D013752:Tetracycline