[Antibiotic susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates in Berlin]. / Antibiotikaempfindlichkeit von Neisseria-gonorrhoeae-Isolaten in Berlin.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Because of the increasing resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, we studied the actual resistance of isolates in Berlin. PATIENTS/METHODS: 85 Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates were collected between 1995 and 1997. Susceptibility testing was performed for penicillin G, tetracycline, spectinomycin, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin and azithromycin by agar dilution. RESULTS: 18.8% isolates were resistant or intermediately resistant to penicillin G (including 6 PPNG). 12.9% isolates were resistant, 43.5% intermediately resistant to tetracycline. One strain was resistant against ciprofloxacin, 4 isolates showed increased MIC values (0.06-0.5 mg/l), whereas 78 isolates were fully susceptible (< 0.007 mg/l). All isolates were susceptible to spectinomycin, ceftriaxone, and azithromycin. CONCLUSIONS: Penicillin G and tetracycline should be given only in cases of proven sensibility. Resistance against ciprofloxacin may occur, especially in isolates acquired in south-east Asia. Ceftriaxone, spectinomycin and azithromycin were active against all isolates. The actual resistance situation should be monitored.

[Influx of prostitution into Germany]. / Prostitutionstourismus nach Deutschland.

Movement of international prostitution as it has been known for a long time usually takes place in two different ways. One way is that men travel as customers to so-called low-cost tourist countries where they spend some time with prostitutes. In the other instance young women from developing countries and also from the former Eastern European countries are being lured into Germany. These women are trying to escape miserable conditions in their countries and often arrive with great expectations. There is no statistical information available about the numbers of these young women. Recently inquiries have been made from all public health advisory centres for venereal diseases to obtain such information. We report on the method of the Berlin public health advisory centres for venereal diseases to improve the state of health of these women who were dragged from their homelands.

[Prostitution--a sequela of sexual abuse]. / Prostitution--eine Folge sexuellen Missbrauchs.

AIDS has consolidated the isolated state of prostitutes and stigmatized them as HIV carriers. Due to the threat of AIDS, the Berlin senate has worked out a programme for prostitutes. For the programme to succeed, knowledge of the causes of prostitution is a prerequisite, such as sexual abuse during childhood and adolescence. The sexually abused who have gone without psychological help are prone to prostitution. The work and its evaluation by a psychologist is presented to help counselling Services on Venereal Diseases in their work.

[Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infections as a cause of sexually transmissible diseases--studies from a Berlin counseling center for venereal diseases]. / Prävelenz von Chlamydia trachomatis-Infektionen als Ursache sexuell übertragbarer Krankheiten--Untersuchungen aus einer Berliner Beratungsstelle Geschlechtskrankheiten.

In a study of the Public Health Advisory Centre for Veneral Diseases in Berlin-Schöneberg 207 patients with signs of urethritis and/or cervicitis were examined in antigen- and antibody-tests for infections with Chlamydia trachomatis Type D-K. On the strength of the high prevalence of 33.3% in the antigen test and 40.1% in the IgA antibody test an extension of the STD diagnostic by the Advisory Boards for Veneral Diseases is demanded by means of an appropriate amendment of the Law for the Control of Veneral Diseases for which epidemiological arguments are given.

[Prostitution as a form of coping with childhood sexual abuse with its sequelae]. / Prostitution als Bewältigungsform in der Kindheit erlittenen sexuellen Missbrauchs mit seinen Folgen.

Since August 1987 the Public Health Advisory Service on Venereal Diseases in Berlin-Schöneberg offers psychological and social counselling and advice for prostitutes who wish to quit their present job. Until 31.12.1989 53 prostitutes gave up prostitution with the help of the Advisory Service. Taking into consideration American studies on the connection between sexual abuse during childhood and prostitution, and from own observations, the Beratungsstelle commissioned a psychologist to work with victims of sexual abuse who are now prostitutes. The outcome of this work confirmed the American studies. Besides drug abuse, mental and physical disorders, prostitution is yet another attempt to cope with the once endured sexual violence. The fear of AIDS prompts an increasing number of prostitutes to give their life another direction. Therefore, they are in need of special care by the institutions of Public Health. The Public Health Advisory Service on Venereal Diseases in Berlin-Schöneberg is one of the four governmental social and medical centres for patients suffering from venereal diseases in Berlin (West).

[Spectinomycin resistant gonococcal infections in West Germany. Detection in 7 patients and occurrence of post-gonorrheal epididymitis caused by the spectinomycin-resistant PPNG strain]. / Spectinomycin-resistente Gonokokken-Infektionen in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Erfassung von 7 Patienten und Auftreten postgonorrhoischer Epididymitis durch Spectinomycin-resistenten PPNG-Stamm.

Seven patients (four men, three women) with gonococcal urethritis resistant to spectinomycin treatment were seen in May and June 1989 in the Department of Dermatology in Berlin (West), and strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) resistant to spectinomycin were detected, cultured in vitro from these individuals. In five of the seven patients penicillin-resistant strains were found, including a penicillinase-producing strain in one case; the other two patients had penicillin-sensitive strains. In all cases the NG-populations detected were sensitive to cephalosporin and cipro(oxo)floxacin. In a 17-year-old young man with the PPNG strain severe gonococcal epididymitis developed after repeated infection that had been inadequately treated with spectinomycin. All seven patients mentioned sexual contact with individuals who lived in Southeast Asia or had their origins there; in at least four cases the contact persons came from Thailand. This is the first report on spectinomycin-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections (PPNG and non-PPNG) in the Federal Republic of Germany. The necessity for monitoring the results of penicillin and/or spectinomycin treatment of gonorrhoea are underlined for the dermatovenereologist, and some guidelines for therapy are given.