AN OUTBREAK OF A PENICILLIN-SENSITIVE STRAIN OF GONORRHEA IN SYDNEY MEN

Objective-To describe an outbreak of gonorrhoea caused by penicillin s ensitive Wild type 1B2-Wt/1B2(FS), in homosexual men in Sydney. Design and setting-The study sample comprised all gonococcal isolates referr ed to the Gonococcal Reference Laboratory (GRL), New South Wales, Aust ralia between 1 January 1990 and 30 June 1992. Demographic data on Wt/ 1B2(FS) were sought by review of all request forms accompanying specim ens to the GRL. Detailed review was undertaken of the clinical records of all men with gonorrhoea which had been differentiated by auxotype and serotype (AIS) from two large STD clinics in Sydney. Measurements and main results-The first isolation of Wt/1B2(FS) was made in April 1 990 and by the end of July 1992, 140 such isolates were identified in 131 patients. The male:female ratio was 130:1 suggesting male homosexu al transmission, which was confirmed in 55 of 57 evaluable cases. Ther e was a higher proportion of pharyngeal and anal infections among Wt/1 B2(FS) isolates compared with all other male gonorrhoea. Demographic i nformation showed that 60% of men with Wt/1B2(FS) were under the age o f 30, and 80% lived in Central or Eastern Sydney. Conclusions-An outbr eak of a penicillin sensitive strain of gonorrhoea has occurred in Syd ney, primarily among gay men living in the inner city. The extent to w hich the outbreak represents an increase in the risk of HIV transmissi on is unclear.