INVITRO SUSCEPTIBILITY OF NEISSERIA-GONORRHOEAE TO CEFUROXIME, PENICILLIN, AND TETRACYCLINE IN DENMARK - 1979

In vitro susceptibility to cefuroxime, penicillin and tetracycline of 963 strains of N. gonorrhoeae strains isolated in Denmark in 1979 was tested. If penicillanase-producing strains of N. gonorrhoeae were excluded from the analysis, a significant positive correlation between the median inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of cefuroxime and penicillin was observed (r = 0.87). Among strains exhibiting IC50 of penicillin of .gtoreq. 0.30 .mu.g/ml, 80% (106/133) had an IC50 of cefuroxime of .gtoreq. 0.088. A total of 96% (106/110) of strains exibiting an IC50 of cefuroxime of .gtoreq. 0.088 .mu.g/ml were less susceptible to penicillin (IC50, .gtoreq. 0.30 .mu.g/ml). The IC50 values of tetracycline were positively correlated with those of cefuroxime. There was no apparent difference between the level of antimicrobial susceptibility of strains (623) isolated from urogenital sites and that of strains (109) from the pharynx.