QUINOLONE-RESISTANT NEISSERIA-GONORRHOEAE ISOLATED IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1991 TO 1995

Background and Objectives: Quinolone antibiotics are used widely for t he treatment of gonorrhea, but resistant strains appeared in Sydney in 1984, treatment failure with high-dose regimens in 1991, and isolates with very high minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) (16 mg/l) in 1994. Goals: To examine the frequency, source, and characteristics of Quinolone-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae (QRNG) in Sydney from 1991 t o 1995 and to compare these data with those obtained from 1984 to 1990 . Study Design: The antibiotic sensitivity, auxotype-serovar class, an d geographic source of QRNG isolated in Sydney from January 1, 1991 to June 30, 1995 were analyzed. Results: One hundred seven QRNG were iso lated from 97 patients from 1991 to 1995. The number, proportion, and MICs of QRNG increased slowly in the first 4 years of the study and ra pidly in the last 6 months. Most QRNG were isolated from travelers ent ering Sydney from Asia. Twenty-seven different auxotype-serovar classe s were detected including 6 auxotype-serovar classes in 14 isolates wi th high-level quinolone resistance (MIC, 16 mg/l). Conclusions: QRNG i solated in Sydney during the past decade originated in Asia as multipl e gonococcal subtypes and increased substantially in numbers and level s of resistance in 1995.