Therapeutic trial and pharmacokinetics of sulbactam for uncomplicated gonorrhea in men.

The efficacy of intramuscular sulbactam for uncomplicated gonorrhea was assessed in 20 men infected with beta-lactamase-negative Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Ten subjects received 2.0 g of sulbactam given in a single intramuscular dose with 1.0 g of probenecid orally; 4 of 10 urethral infections persisted, as did one rectal infection. Ten subjects were treated with 0.5 g of intramuscular sulbactam given twice, 4 h apart; 3 of 10 urethral infections and 2 of 2 rectal infections persisted. The geometric mean MIC of sulbactam for 20 pretreatment isolates of N. gonorrhoeae was 1.37 microgram/ml (range, 0.25 to 8.0 micrograms/ml). Serum levels of sulbactam, determined for nine subjects in the two treatment groups, fell below the MIC of some gonococci after less than 6 h with both regimens. In the regimens studied, sulbactam alone is not suitable as therapy for uncomplicated gonorrhea. determined for nine subjects in the two treatment groups, fell below the MIC of some gonococci after less than 6 h with both regimens. In the regimens studied, sulbactam alone is not suitable as therapy for uncomplicated gonorrhea.