Antibiotic Susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Arkhangelsk, Russia

• Published in: Sexually Transmitted Infections
• Main Authors: Vorobieva, Veronica, Firsova, Natalia, Ababkova, Tatiana, Leniv, Ivan, Haldorsen, Bjørg C, Unemo, Magnus, Skogen, Vegard
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 2006
• Subjects: Paper; Arkhangelsk
• Online Access: http://sti.bmj.com/cgi/content/short/sti.2006.021857v1; https://doi.org/10.1136/sti.2006.021857

Objectives: To comprehensively characterise the antibiotic susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Arkhangelsk, Russia and to investigate whether the recommended treatment guidelines are updated and effective. Methods: The susceptibility of N. gonorrhoeae isolates cultured from June to November 2004 from mainly consecutive gonorrhoea patients (n=76) in Arkhangelsk to penicillin G, ampicillin, cefixime, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, azithromycin, kanamycin, spectinomycin, and tetracycline was analysed using Etest. Nitrocefin discs were used for β-lactamase detection. Results: The levels of intermediate susceptibility and resistance to the different antibiotics were as follows: penicillin G 76%, ampicillin 71%, cefixime 0%, ceftriaxone 3%, ciprofloxacin 17%, erythromycin 54%, azithromycin 15%, kanamycin 49%, spectinomycin 0%, and tetracycline 92%. Fifty-five (72%) of the isolates were determined as multiresistant, i.e. they showed intermediate susceptibility or resistance to three or more classes of antibiotics. However, none of the isolates were β- lactamase producing. Conclusions: In Arkhangelsk, and presumably in many other areas of Russia, penicillins, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, azithromycin, kanamycin, and tetracycline, should not be used in treatment of gonorrhoea if results of antibiotic susceptibility testing are not available. In Russia, optimized, standardized and quality-assured antibiotic susceptibility testing needs to be established in many laboratories. Subsequently, continuous local, regional and national surveillance of antibiotic susceptibility in order to detect the emergence of new resistance, to monitor changing patterns of susceptibility, and to be able to update treatment recommendations on a regular basis, is crucial.