SENSITIVITY PATTERN AND BETA-LACTAMASE SCREENING OF NEISSERIA-GONORRHOEAE STRAINS ISOLATED IN ZARIA, NORTHERN NIGERIA

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 37  (1) , 74-76
Abstract
Strains of N. gonorrhoeae (160) were studied for their in-vitro sensitivity to 6 different antimicrobial agents and tested for .beta.-lactamase production in Zaria, northern Nigeria. While 82% of strains were sensitive to erythromycin, 70% to tetracycline and 61% to chloramphenicol, only 35%, 33% and 24% were sensitive to ampicillin, penicillin and streptomycin, respectively. Penicillin is no more the drug of choice in the treatment of gonorrhea in this environment since 2/3 of strains are either partially resistant or completely resistant to penicillin and 44% of strains are .beta.-lactamase producers. Erythromycin/tetracycline are recommended as the drugs of choice.