Diminished antibiotic sensitivity of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in urban and rural areas in Kenya.

Abstract

A total of 1730 cases of suspected gonorrhea were investigated in 8 urban and rural clinics in Kenya; sensitivity tests were performed in 736 cases. A majority of the strains had relative resistance to 2 drugs in common use--penicillin and streptomycin. For tetracycline, a slightly decreased sensitivity was often found and resistance to these antibiotics was usually linked. It was found that relative resistance to antibiotics is already common in rural areas in which the majority of the African population live, and that resistance to penicillin is even more common in rural areas than towns. Evidence that this may result from the continuation of inadequate treatment, especially in developing tropical countries was obtained. Such countries are becoming an immense reservoir of strains with a high level of resistance to penicillin. Ways of remedying this situation are discussed. (author's modified)