Single-dose treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhea in men with intramuscular and oral thiamphenicol.

Each of 200 men with uncomplicated gonococcal urethritis was randomly assigned to a group receiving one of two therapeutic regimens. Group A received 2 g of spectinomycin intramuscularly. Group B received 2.5 g of thiamphenicol, with 500 mg administered intramuscularly just after oral administration of 2 g. Of the 89 patients in group A who completed the study, 32 were infected with penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae, 49 with non-penicillinase-producing N. gonorrhoeae, and eight with gonococcal strains not tested for penicillinase production. Infection was cured in all 89 patients. Of the 91 patients in group B who completed the study, 33 were infected with penicillinase-producing N. gonorrhoeae, 54 with non-penicillinase-producing N. gonorrhoeae, and four with gonococcal strains not tested for penicillinase production. Infection was cured in 86 (94.5%) of the 91 patients. Thus, the single-dose regimen of thiamphenicol was effective against uncomplicated infections caused by either penicillinase-producing or non-penicillinase-producing strains of N. gonorrhoeae.