Penicillinase producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae among female patients in Siriraj Hospital 1981

Abstract

Penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains were isolated among the general population in Thailand with increasing frequency during the period of 1977 to 1980. Beginning from January to May 1981, a total of 100 clinical isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae obtained from all female patients in Siriraj Hospital were detected for β-lactamase production by the chromogenic cephalosporin method. The incidence of PPNG among female patients who were the main reservoir of gonorrhea was found to be as high as 51%. The frequent occurrence of PPNG in Thailand may be explained by the spread of the strains carrying resistance plasmid as well as by the spread of the resistance plasmid among these bacteria, which can occur with the help of conjugative plasmid. Since PPNG strains exhibit high-level penicillin resistance, penicillin should no longer be used in the treatment of gonorrhea in Thailand at the present time.