Azithromycin Resistance and Decreased Ceftriaxone Susceptibility in Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Hawaii, USA

Emerg Infect Dis. 2017 May;23(5):830-832. doi: 10.3201/eid2305.170088.

Abstract

During 2016, eight Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates from 7 patients in Hawaii were resistant to azithromycin; 5 had decreased in vitro susceptibility to ceftriaxone. Genomic analysis demonstrated a distinct phylogenetic clade when compared with local contemporary strains. Continued evolution and widespread transmission of these strains might challenge the effectiveness of current therapeutic options.

Keywords: Hawaii; Neisseria gonorrhoeae; STD; STI; United States; antimicrobial resistance; azithromycin; bacteria; bacterial infection; ceftriaxone; genomic analysis; gonorrhea; in vitro susceptibility; phylogenic cluster; sexual transmitted infections; sexually transmitted disease.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Azithromycin / pharmacology*
  • Ceftriaxone / pharmacology*
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial*
  • Genome, Bacterial
  • Gonorrhea / epidemiology*
  • Gonorrhea / microbiology*
  • Hawaii / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Multilocus Sequence Typing
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae / classification
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae / drug effects*
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae / genetics
  • Phylogeny
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial / epidemiology
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial / microbiology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Ceftriaxone
  • Azithromycin