Successful therapy of penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae pharyngeal infection during pregnancy

Abstract

The relative frequency of pharyngeal gonococcal infection may be increased in certain prenatal populations. Therapy of penicillin-sensitive strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae is associated with acceptable cure rates using aqueous procaine penicillin with probenecid. Infection of the oropharynx of pregnant women with penicillinase-producing strains is more problematic. The antibiotics normally used for the therapy of uncomplicated penicillinase-producing N gonorrhoeae infections, spectinomycin or cefoxitin, are not effective in the therapy of pharyngeal infection. Reported is the first case of penicillinase-producing N gonorrhoeae oropharyngeal infection during pregnancy. The patient was successfully treated with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and no maternal or neonatal morbidity was noted.