Single-dose therapy of gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum with ceftriaxone.

We conducted a randomized clinical trial comparing a single intramuscular dose of 125 mg of ceftriaxone with a single intramuscular dose of 75 mg of kanamycin followed by topical gentamicin for seven days, and with a single intramuscular dose of 75 mg of kanamycin followed by topical tetracycline for seven days, in the treatment of gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum in Nairobi, Kenya. Of 122 newborns with culture-proved gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum, 105 returned for follow-up. Sixty-one infants (54 percent) received ceftriaxone, 32 received kanamycin plus topical gentamicin, and 29 received kanamycin plus topical tetracycline.

Epidemiology of ophthalmia neonatorum in Kenya.

In a Nairobi hospital where ocular prophylaxis against ophthalmia neonatorum has been discontinued, 1,019 women were screened for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis during labour and 7 and 28 days postpartum. The prevalence of gonococcal infection was 7% and that of chlamydial was 29%. 52.

Isolation and identification of Haemophilus ducreyi in a clinical laboratory.

Routine procedures used to isolate Haemophilus ducreyi in a busy laboratory are reported. Identification was based on colony morphology and nutritional and biochemical properties of 120 fresh isolates of H. ducreyi.

Clinical evaluation of rosoxacin for the treatment of chancroid.

One hundred seven men with Haemophilus ducreyi-positive chancroid were assigned to receive 300 mg of rosoxacin as a single dose or 150 mg twice daily for 3 days. Ulcers and buboes were followed clinically and bacteriologically for 1 month. Of 40 evaluable males on the 3-day regimen, 38 (95%) were cured, while only 14 of 23 (61%) males on the single-dose regimen were cured; this regimen was discontinued.

Three day oral course of Augmentin to treat chancroid.

Amoxycillin and clavulanic acid (Augmentin; Beecham Research Laboratories) was used to treat patients with bacteriologically proved chancroid in three different dose regimens. A single dose of Augmentin (amoxycillin 3 g, clavulanic acid 350 mg) was found to be ineffective. A similar dose repeated after 24 hours was equally ineffective, but a dose (amoxycillin 500 mg, clavulanic acid 250 mg) given every 8 hours for three days was found to be effective.

AIDS virus infection in Nairobi prostitutes. Spread of the epidemic to East Africa.

The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is epidemic in Central Africa. To determine the prevalence of AIDS virus infection in East Africa, we studied 90 female prostitutes, 40 men treated at a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases, and 42 medical personnel in Nairobi, Kenya. Antibody to human T-cell lymphotropic virus Type III (HTLV-III) was detected in the serum of 66 percent of prostitutes of low socioeconomic status, 31 percent of prostitutes of higher socioeconomic status, 8 percent of the clinic patients, and 2 percent of the medical personnel.