Ceftizoxime (FK-749) is effective therapy for urethritis caused by penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Fifty-five men with culture-proved gonococcal urethritis caused by either penicillin-sensitive or penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae were treated with 1 g of ceftizoxime given intramuscularly. All patients were cured, including 26 (47%) with penicillinase-producing strains. Patients experienced no local or systemic side effects and tolerated the injection of ceftizoxime well. These results show that ceftizoxime is an effective alternative to either spectinomycin or cefoxitin in treatment of uncomplicated gonococcal urethritis caused by penicillin-resistant bacteria.