Gonococcal Meningitis Complicating Treated Gonococcal Urethritis

Abstract

Careful bacteriologic identification of the organism in the urethral drainage and the spinal fluid was carried out. The organisms isolated from the urethra were sensitive in vitro by disc method to penicillin. Despite penicillin therapy over a 2 week period, meningitis developed, suggesting a relative resistance, in vivo, of this strain of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to penicillin. Prompt response to massive doses of penicillin occurred despite failure of conventional doses of penicillin and sulfonamide to cure the urethritis. The need for reassessment of present treatment schedules in acute gonococcal urethritis is suggested.