Treatment of gonorrhoea in the female with fortified procaine penicillin plus probenecid and with spectinomycin.

513 cases of uncomplicated gonorrhoea in females with positive results to cultures were treated with two regimens of treatment between January 1, 1972, and February 28, 1973, at the Department for Females, Bangrak Hospital, Bangkok. The highest incidence was found in the age group 20 to 24 years (215 out of 513). The patients were divided into two groups. In the first, probenecid 1 g. was given orally 1 hour before an intramuscular injection of 4 million units fortified procaine penicillin, and in the second an intramuscular injection of 2 g. spectinomycin dihydrochloride was given. 335 cases were followed in the first group and there were no failures; 132 cases were followed in the second group and there was one failure (0.7 per cent.). The fact that gonococci were found in the rectum in 23.7 per cent. of cases (117 out of 493) indicates that rectal tests are of considerable importance and should be included in the routine investigations. There was no evidence that gonorrhoeal infection of the rectum was more resistant to treatment than infection at other sites.