Antibiotic Susceptibility, Serovars and Auxotypes of Gonococcal Isolates in Stockholm. Relation to Geographical Origin of the Infection

Abstract

The antibiotic susceptibility, serovars and auxotypes were investigated in gonococcal strains isolated from all patients with gonorrhoea during one year in Stockholm, Sweden. The results were correlated to geographical origin of the infection. A total of 394 gonococcal strains were isolated from 392 patients, 135 (34%) women and 257 (66%) men. Beta-lactamase-producing gonococcal strains (PPNG) were isolated from 5% of the women and 16% of the men. Men had acquired their infection abroad more often than women (54% vs 33%) (P < 0.001). The majority (81%) of the PPNG infections were imported. Some serovars and auxotypes were more common among imported strains than among indigenous ones. All strains were sensitive to spectinomycin and 2 strains had decreased susceptibility to norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin. Decreased susceptibility to benzylpenicillin, ampicillin, doxycycline and cefuroxime was related to the geographical origin of the strains with strains imported from regions other than Europe being the most resistant.

Temporal changes in the gonococcal serovar patterns in Stockholm during two years with special reference to PPNG strains.

“…The strains were cultured and identified as described earlier. 8 All strains were classified serologically with co-agglutination into serogroups (WI and WII/III) and serovars as previously described.' 9 Two different sets of monoclonal antibody reagents were used: the Ph-panel5 10 (Pharmacia Diagnostics AB, Uppsala, Sweden) and the GS-panell (Syva, Palo Alto, USA).…”

“…This would also include an evaluation of the effects of intensified contact tracing performed by specially trained social workers.7 Another object was to correlate antibiotic susceptibility, serovars, and auxotypes of the gonococcal isolates to geographical origin of the infection. 8 The aim of the present study was to describe and analyse temporal changes in serovar patterns in the community to show the dynamics in the spread of Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains with special reference to PPNG strains.…”

The virgin population of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Stockholm has decreased and antimicrobial resistance is increasing.

“…It has been shown that men more often have imported gonococcal infection than women. 22 The proportion of endemic gonococcal strains in Stockholm decreased by half to 40% during 1987-1989.23 In another study the majority of patients infected with PPNG strains of known origin were infected abroad, half of them in Asia. 24 High prevalence of PPNG strains has been reported from Southeast Asia.25 27 Half of all tetracycline resistant N gonorrhoeae strains isolated in Stockholm 1988 were imported from Asia22 It has also been reported that a majority of the gonococcal strains isolated in both the Philippines and Thailand in 1989 and 1990 were resistant to tetracycline.2526 Tetracycline has never been a drug of choice for treating gonorrhoea in Sweden.…”

Serotype and serovar distribution of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated from high-risk populations in Bangladesh

“…The major serovars in the present study were: Arst (19.2%), Bropt (9.2%), Bopt (7.5%), Arost (7.1%), Brop (6.2%), Bopyt (5.8%), Ast (5.0%), Broput (4.6%) and Byvut (4.1%). In another study in Stockholm reported in 1993, investigators found that among the Protein IA strains, the most common were "Arost" (71%) and among the Protein IB strains, the most common serovars were "Brpyust" (20%) and "Bropt" (19%) 5 .…”

“…Serogroup PIA was found to correlate with resistance to the bactericidal action of normal serum, disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI) and asymptomatic gonorrhoea 5 . Whereas, serogroup PIB was found to correlate with resistance to several antimicrobial agents and with homosexually acquired infection 6 .…”