ANTIBIOTIC-SENSITIVITY OF NEISSERIA-GONORRHOEAE ISOLATES IN BARBADOS - LONGITUDINAL SURVEILLANCE 1990-1994

The antimicrobial susceptibility of 775 isolates of Neisseria gonorrho eae, recovered in Barbados over a five-year period, was studied by dis c diffusion. Sensitivity to penicillin declined from 56% in 1990 to 38 % in 1994. The prevalence of beta-lactamase production rose from 30% t o 50% during this period and sensitivity to tetracycline declined from 96% to 46%, while co-trimoxazole and spectinomycin sensitivities vari ed. Ceftriaxone, norfloxacin and erythromycin Mare the only compounds tested to which sensitivity remained uniform. The results confirm the current recommendations by several agencies that ceftriaxone or an ora l fluoroquinolone should be considered the drug of choice for the empi rical treatment of gonorrhoea.