[Activity of thiamphenicol in the early stage of syphilis]

Possible activity of thiamphenicol on Treponema pallidum during single-dose treatment of gonococcal infection with 10 tablets of 0.250 mg each was investigated using a new, more accurate method. We found that, under the conditions of our study, thiamphenicol fails to kill T. pallidum, exhibiting only incomplete activity. Thus, thiamphenicol taken during incubation of syphilis may delay or inhibit the emergence of primary manifestations but fails to achieve bacteriologic sterilization of T. pallidum acquired concomitantly with gonococcus. Clinical and serologic evidence of syphilis should therefore be looked for routinely three and six months after treatment.