Resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae epidemic strains to antibiotics - Report of resistant isolates and surveillance in Zhanjiang, China: 1998 to 1999

Background: Antibiotics are widely used to treat gonorrhea. Changes in the susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to these agents may influence their use. Goal: To measure the antibiotic susceptibility of N gonorrhoeae epidemic st rains in Zhanjiang (Guangdong) and to evaluate the prevalence of strains wi th reduced susceptibility. Study Design: A total of 98 gonococcal isolates obtained from 1998 through 1999 in Zhanjiang were tested for antibiotic susceptibility based on the sy stemic identification. The inhibitory zone diameters (mm) and the MICs of p enicillin, tetracycline, spectinomycin, ceftriaxone, and ciprofloxacin were determined using disk-diffusion and agar-dilution methods, respectively. T he susceptibilities of these isolates were defined using criteria of the Na tional Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards, Results: The percentages of gonococci-resistant strains to penicillin, tetr acycline, spectinomycin, ceftriaxone, and ciprofloxacin were 32.65%, 69.39% , 8.16%, 13.27%, 82.65% by disk-diffusion method and 23.91%, 49.46%, 11.11% , 16.48%, 59.34% by agar-dilution method, respectively. Conclusions: The resistant strains of contemporary gonococci in Zhanjiang w ere serious, especially for ciprofloxacin resistance. Continued active surv eillance is needed to detect and control the spread of ceftriaxone-resistan t and spectinomycin-resistant N gonorrhoeae.