Abstract

In a randomised study of two drugs for the oral treatment of uncomplicated urogenital and rectal gonorrhoea the therapeutic effect of cefuroxime axetil ester (CAE) and amoxycillin plus clavulanic acid (A + C) was compared. Cefuroxime axetil ester 1.5 g was given to 129 men and 118 women. Amoxycillin 3.0 g and clavulanic acid 0.25 g was given to 131 men and 122 women. Both treatments were combined with probenecid 1.0 g and administered in a single oral dose. Of the 500 patients thus treated, 376 were assessable. In the group taking CAE, failure rates were 0.9% for the men and 0% for the women; and the overall failure rate was 0.5%. In the group taking A + C the equivalent failure rates were 4.6%, 1.2%, and 3.1%. The differences were not significant. Penicillinase producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG) was isolated from 5.6% of the assessable patients. All 10 PPNG infections in the group taking CAE and four of 11 PPNG infections in the group taking A + C were cured. These numbers were too small to draw a definite conclusion about the efficacy of both drugs in this type of infection. Postgonococcal urethritis was observed in 35% of the men in the group taking CAE and in 32% of those in the group taking A + C. Side effects were noted in 38% of the group taking CAE and 28% of the group taking A + C. Nausea and vomiting were more commonly observed in the group taking CAE; and diarrhoea was more commonly observed in the group taking A + C.