DEMONSTRATION OF INTRACELLULAR GROWTH OF GONOCOCCI IN HUMAN PHAGOCYTES USING SPECTINOMYCIN TO KILL EXTRACELLULAR ORGANISMS

The use of spectinomycin to kill extracellular bacteria in phagocytosis tests with gonococci and human polymorphonuclear phagocytes allowed the demonstration of a greater degree of intracellular survival and growth than in previous tests using penicillin. Spectinomycin combines effective bactericidal activity extracellularly with a reduced effect on intracellular organisms. This reduced effect may be due to less penetration into the phagocytes or possibly, as for streptomycin to a reduced effectiveness in the phagocyte vacuoles due to a low pH. Penicillin is, however, a useful agent for determining whether the intracellular organisms are growing.