Ampicillin by Injection and by Mouth in the Treatment of Acute Gonorrhoea.

Ampicillin ("Penbritin") has been shown to be active against the gonococcus both when used by mouth (Willcox, 1963, 1964; Alergant, 1963) and in vitro (Odegaard, 1962). Little or no published data are so far available concerning the use of the injectable sodium salt of ampicillin, which is supplied in vials in the form of a white powder in amounts equivalent to 250 or 500 mg. ampicillin. It is dissolved in 1 5 ml. distilled water before use by intramuscular injection and is well tolerated. The made-up solution is, however, unstable and should be used immediately. The present paper reports the results of treating 81 male patients with acute uncomplicated gonorrhoea with single injections of 250 or 500 mg. ampicillin, and contrasts them with the results in 250 cases in which various oral dosages of ampicillin were used and in 279 others who received single injections of I 2 mega units aqueous procaine penicillin.