INCREASING PREVALENCE OF PENICILLINASE-PRODUCING NEISSERIA-GONORRHOEAE AND THE EMERGENCE OF HIGH-LEVEL, PLASMID-MEDIATED TETRACYCLINE RESISTANCE AMONG GONOCOCCAL ISOLATES IN THE GAMBIA

One hundred and three strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated from a periurban STD clinic in The Gambia were studied for antimicrobial sus ceptibility, plasmid profile, and serogroup using standard procedures. Seventy-nine (77%) were penicillinase producers (PPNG) and fully resi stant to penicillin (MIC greater than or equal to 8 mg/l). One isolate showed chromosomally induced resistance to penicillin (MIC 2 mg/l). N one of the isolates was sensitive to tetracycline; 16 (16%) showed int ermediate resistance (MICs 1-8 mg/l) and 87 (84%) showed high-level pl asmid-mediated resistance (TRP IG) (MICs >10 mg/l). This is the first report of TRNG in The Gambia. Only 6 (6%) strains were fully sensitive to trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole (MIC <8 mg/l); 78 (76%) showed inte rmediate level resistance (MICs 8-16 mg/l) and 19 (18%) were fully res istant (MIC >32 mg/l). Indications of an increase in MIC to ciprofloxa cin and ceftriaxone were found in 6 (6%) and 1 (1%) strains, respectiv ely, although all remained fully sensitive (MICs 0.004-0.03 mg/l and 0 .001-0.015 mg/l). All PPNG and TRNG strains carried the 3.2 MDa and 25 .2 MDa plasmids, respectively. ALI isolates carried the 2.6 MDa crypti c plasmid and 9 (3 PPNG and 6 non-PPNG) carried the 24.5 MDa conjugati ve plasmid. Forty-four (43%) strains were typed group WI, 58 (56%) WII /III and I had cross-reacting antigens. Because PPNG are frequently en countered and high-level TRNG is now prevalent, the newer cephalospori ns and quinolones must now be considered as first-line drugs for the t reatment of gonorrhoea in The Gambia.