EFFICACY OF CEFTIZOXIME IN THE TREATMENT OF INCUBATING SYPHILIS IN RABBITS

While ceftizoxime given as a single intramuscular shot cures uncomplic ated gonorrhoea in almost every case, its efficacy against Treponema p allidum in cases of concomitant incubating syphilis is less clear. To analyse this question, the rabbit orchitis model was used. After initi al experiments defining appropriate inocula and doses, ceftizoxime was compared to penicillin G with its well-known activity against the org anism in vitro and in vivo. According to the final experiment, ceftizo xime applied in doses corresponding to the ones used in humans for unc omplicated gonorrhoea cures rabbit orchitis due to T. pallidum about a s effectively as penicillin. Hence there seems to be no need to refrai n from using the third-generation cephalosporin ceftizoxime to cure go norrhoea for fear of masking concomitant syphilis.