TREATMENT OF GONOCOCCAL INFECTIONS WITH A SINGLE 250 MG INTRAMUSCULARINJECTION OF TROSPECTOMYCIN SULFATE VS CEFTRIAXONE SODIUM

Trospectomycin sulphate is a new, more potent analog of spectinomycin, which is active in vitro against penicillin-sensitive and penicillin- resistant strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. This study was designed to determine the bacteriologic and clinical efficacy as well as safety o f a single intramuscularly administered 250 mg dose of trospectomycin sulphate in the treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhoea (cervical, ureth ral, pharyngeal and anal). Ceftriaxone sodium was used as a comparator antibiotic in a single 250 mg intramuscular dose. Seventy-four patien ts (36 women and 38 men) were evaluable in the trospectomycin treated group and 40 patients (22 women and 18 men) in the ceftriaxone treated group. The overall bacteriologic cure rate was 98.6% (73/74) for tros pectomycin and 95% (38/40) for ceftriaxone. Bacteriologic failures wer e observed among women 1136 (2.8%) treated with trospectomycin and 2/2 2 (9.1%) treated with ceftriaxone. The overall clinical success rate ( clinically cured plus clinically improved) was 90.5% for trospectomyci n and 100% for ceftriaxone. Adverse events were reported rarely in bot h groups. Less than 10% of patients complained of pain and/or tenderne ss at the injection site for both drugs; one patient developed a gener alized, pruritic rash which occurred three days after administration o f trospectomycin and resolved within six days. In conclusion, a single dose of 250 mg i. m. trospectomycin appears to be at least as effecti ve and safe as a single dose of ceftriaxone in the treatment of uncomp licated gonorrhoea.