Ciprofloxacin versus ampicillin and probenecid in the treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhoea in men.

Eighty-six men with uncomplicated gonorrhoea were entered into a study comparing the efficacy of a single oral dose of 250 mg of ciprofloxacin with a single oral dose of ampicillin 2 g and probenecid 1 g for urethral gonorrhoea and a course of ampicillin, 500 mg four times per day for five days in rectal and pharyngeal infection. Two patients were excluded. Of the remaining 84, 45 were treated with ampicillin and 39 with ciprofloxacin. In the ampicillin group there were two treatment failures out of 40 urethral infections. Three patients with rectal infection were cured. Only one patient out of three pharyngeal infections was cured. Ciprofloxacin cured all of 34 urethral and three rectal infections including one penicillinase producing strain of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG). Four of five pharyngeal infections were cured but there was one treatment failure. There were no major side effects in either treatment group. In conclusion, a single oral dose of 250 mg of ciprofloxacin is an effective treatment for uncomplicated gonorrhoea in men.