Abstract

Eight hundred and twenty-three examinations were carried out on 662 homosexual patients. At each examination a blind anorectal swab and a rectal swab taken via a proctoscope were inoculated on to a culture plate. From a total of 100 gonococcal infections of the rectum 96 gave positive results from blind anorectal swabs and 99 from swabs taken via a proctoscope. Blind anorectal swabs proved to be a reliable method in the diagnosis of rectal gonorrhoea.