PROMINENCE OF PENICILLINASE-PRODUCING STRAINS OF NEISSERIA GONORRHOEAE IN GONOCOCCAL ARTHRITIS—EXPERIENCE IN DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA

Penicillin resistance amongst gonococcal strains causing disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI) has been infrequently reported worldwide. The clinical records of 34 patients with gonococcal arthritis seen over a 53-month period were reviewed. The study population consisted of 32 blacks and two Indians with a mean age of 23.5 yr (range 1446 yr) and a female to male ratio of 2.8:1. The diagnosis of gonococcal arthritis was made on the basis of isolation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from the SF alone in 20 patients, SF and genital site in nine genital site alone in two and genital site and synovial tissue in one patient and synovial tissue alone in two patients Eighteen of the 32 (56%) synovial isolates were penicillinase-producing strains of N. gonorrhoeae (PPNG)