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Summary
Strains of gonococci isolated from 383 episodes of infection in women were classified
serologically by means of two independently developed panels (Pharmacia (Ph) and Genetic
Sytems (GS)) of monoclonal coagglutination reagents. Strains isolated from two groups
of patients — those with concomitant genital and rectal infection (Group R) and those
with genital infection in the absence of rectal infection (Group G) — were compared
in order to determine whether certain strains of gonococci are isolated more often
from women with concomitant rectal infection. Group R patients accounted for 126 (33
%) episodes and Group G patients accounted for 223 (58%) episodes. Strains belonging
to serogroup WII/III accounted for 61 (48%) Group R infections and 86 (39 %) Group
G infections. The difference was not statistically significant (0·1 > P > 0·05). Strains of serogroup WI could be resolved into 7 Ph- and 10 GS-serovars
while strains of serogroup WII/III could be resolved into 19 Ph- and 14 GS-serovars.
One GS-serovar, Bajk, was isolated from 34 (27%) Group R patients compared with 39
(17 %) Group G patients. This difference was statistically significant (P = 0·05). Compared with non-Bajk isolates, Bajk strongly correlated with reduced susceptibility
to penicillin: 60 (92%) Bajk isolates had minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC)
⩾ 0·06 mg/l penicillin compared with 81 (33 %) non-Bajk isolates (P < 0·001). The GS-serovar Bacejk, however, was significantly less susceptible to penicillin
than was serovar Bajk: 26 (90%) Bacejk isolates had MICs ⩾ 0·12 mg/l penicillin compared
with 29 (44%) Bajk isolates (P < 0·001). Therefore decreased susceptibility to penicillin does not lead in itself
to rectal colonisation.
It was concluded that certain gonococcal strains are more likely to cause concomitant
rectal infection than others and that their reduced susceptibility to penicillin suggests
that rectal test-of-cure cultures are essential in those women treated for anogenital
infection.
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
August 18,
1988
Footnotes
This work was supported by a Scottish Home and Health Department grant (research grant no. K/MRS/50.C785).
Identification
Copyright
© 1989 The British Society for the Study of Infection. Published by Elsevier Inc.
