Real-Time PCR Targeting the penA Mosaic XXXIV Type for Prediction of Extended-Spectrum-Cephalosporin Susceptibility in Clinical Neisseria gonorrhoeae Isolates

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2017 Oct 24;61(11):e01339-17. doi: 10.1128/AAC.01339-17. Print 2017 Nov.

Abstract

Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates with decreased susceptibility to extended-spectrum cephalosporins (ESCs) are increasing. We developed an assay to predict N. gonorrhoeae susceptibility to ESCs by targeting penA mosaic XXXIV, an allele prevalent among U.S. isolates with elevated ESC MICs. The assay was 97% sensitive and 100% specific for predicting at least one ESC MIC above the CDC alert value among clinical isolates, and it could be multiplexed with a previously validated gyrA PCR to predict ciprofloxacin susceptibility.

Keywords: Neisseria gonorrhoeae; antibiotic resistance; antimicrobial resistance; ceftriaxone; cephalosporin; extended-spectrum cephalosporins; gonorrhea; molecular methods.

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • Cephalosporin Resistance / drug effects
  • Cephalosporin Resistance / genetics
  • Cephalosporins / pharmacology*
  • DNA Gyrase / genetics
  • Gonorrhea / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Limit of Detection
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Mosaicism
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae / drug effects*
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae / genetics*
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae / isolation & purification
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • United States

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Cephalosporins
  • DNA Gyrase