Ampicillin/Probenecid

Penicillin has remained the choice drug for the treatment of gonorrhea. Its cure rate has been relative, and because cure rates are not as good as one would wish, an additional increase in dosage has been advised. Despite an improved cure rate with increased dosages, we are rapidly approaching a dose requirement beyond that which can be administered practically on an outpatient basis. Therefore other antimicrobial agents have been evaluated for the treatment of gonorrhea. Ampicillin 2 gm (IM) with 1 gm probenecid was evaluated in 1969 with a 99% plus cure rate. It also has been found that 3.5 gm of ampicillin orally (7 capsules of 500 mg) and probenecid (2 tablets of 500 mg) is an effective treatment for gonorrhea. We undertook the present study to evaluate the efficacy of a new single oral combination treatment, Polycillin-PRB.