Gonorrhoea in 1972. A 1-year study of patients attending the VD Unit in Uppsala.

Abstract

During 1972 all patients visiting the Venereal Disease Clinic of the University Hospital in Uppsala were subjected to careful and extensive interrogation, and the information so obtained was adapted for computer reading, as were the results of clinical examination and microbiological tests. The aim of this programme was not only to evaluate the adequacy of current therapy and epidemiological efforts, but also to illnte problems concerned with information and attitudes. The diagnosis of gonorrhoea was made if either a smear or a culture was positive for gonococci. Smears were considered positive if there was a collection of monomorphic diplococci within a neutrophilic granulocyte stained with methylene blue. Specimens from men were taken from the urethra and in a few cases also from the rectum, and in women from the urethra, cervix, and rectum. The material was transported in Stuart's medium to the laboratory and the culture set up within a few hours. Tonsillar swabs were taken from patients with an untreated gonococcal infection and from patients named as contacts. These were also sent to the laboratory in Stuart's medium and positive cultures from this site were confirmed with fermentation reactions. Methods PATIENTS TREATMENT SCHEDULES FOR GONORRHOEAThe standard treatment was a total of 2 g. ampicillin taken orally as two doses of 1 g. with a 5-hr interval. This treatment was given to 84 per cent. of the patients and the others were treated with either doxycycline, 300 mg. in a single oral dose, or 1 m.u. aqueous benzyl penicillin plus 1 2 m.u. aqueous procaine penicillin in a single injection. The efficacy of the therapy was checked by culture for N. gonorrhoeae of specimens taken one and two weeks after treatment.

Gonorrhoea in patients with scabies.

“…In the literature we have found no directly comparable results, but Wallin (1975) showed that patients suffering from scabies in a VD Clinic in 1972 had a higher frequency of gonorrhoea than other venereological patients. Three studies from Danish gynaecological departments (Andersen and Nielsen, 1974;Gregersen, 1972;Hansen and Lange, 1973), showed an incidence of gonorrhoea between 1-3 and 2 8 per cent.…”

Pharyngeal colonisation by Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis in black and white patients attending a venereal disease clinic.

“…It has been described in case studies and in selected groups of patients, such as homosexual men, pregnant women, and patients practising oro-genital intercourse (Fiumara et al, 1967;Owen and Hill, 1972;Pariser, 1972;Rodin et al, 1972;Courman et al, 1974;Wallin, 1974;Shahidullah, 1976;Stutz et al, 1976. ) In the present study, pharyngeal culture specimens were taken from consecutive new patients attending a city-county venereal disease clinic.…”

Secretory antibody response of the cervix to infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

“…contacts of men with urethral gonorrhoea will be found to be infected (Wallin, 1974). This project was supported by a grant from the Biomedical Research Committee of the Scottish Home and Health Department (Grant No.…”