Streptomycin resistant gonorrhoea.

The readiness with which many organisms develop resistance to streptomycin is well recognized; Willcox (1953) ventured to predict that "should streptomycin be widely used for gonorrhoea it is possible that its efficiency may decline". At the Liverpool Royal Infirmary during the past 4 years routine treatment of male patients suffering from gonorrhoea has been by a single injection of streptomycin 0 5 g. During the 3 years 1954-56, 687 cases were so treated. Failures totalled 34 (4 9 per cent.), but when the 3 years are examined separately (Table), it will be seen that the failure rate has increased sharply from 2 3 per cent. in 1954 to 7 per cent. in 1956.