[Development of the sensitivity to antibiotics in strains of Neisseria gonorrhea isolated in Touraine over a 5-year period].

347 Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains isolated in Touraine, France, from December 1978 to March 1984 were tested for susceptibility to seven antibiotics using an agar dilution method. Percentage of strains with a penicillin G MIC = 0.06 micrograms/ml rose from 58% in 78-80 to 69% in 82-84. Consistent amoxicillin MICs were found throughout the survey (MIC 50: 0.125 and MIC 90: 0.5 micrograms/ml). Three penicillinase-producing strains were recovered from patients contaminated outside the study area. For tetracycline, minocycline, chloramphenicol and spectinomycin, variations of MICs 50 and 90 did not exceed one dilution either way. For spiramycin, MICs 50 and 90 fell from 2 and 8 micrograms/ml respectively in 78-80 to 1 and 2 micrograms/ml in 82-84. Our findings show that susceptibility of Gonococci to the main antibiotics used for treating gonococcal infections in our area has not changed significantly over the last five years. Moreover, implantation and diffusion of penicillinase-producing strains has failed to occur.