Delay and inhibition of growth of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in vitro. Relationship of delayed incubation, penicillinase production, urine culture, and self-treatment.

Delay in the appearance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae on Thayer-Martin medium was associated with delay in incubation and with the use of urine samples from infected men for cultural diagnosis. Self-treatment among women was related to inhibition of growth of N gonorrhoeae, particularly of non-penicillinase-producing gonococci (beta-lactamase). The difference in the time of appearance of penicillinase-producing and non-penicillinase-producing gonococci was significant in men but not in women.