Article    Correction    Table of Contents                    Full Text of this article Free    PDF of this article    Figures/Tables List    Related articles in Annals  Services    Send comment/rapid response letter    Published comments/rapid response letters    Notify a friend about this article    Alert me when this article is cited    Add to Personal Archive    Download to Citation Manager    ACP Search    Get Permissions  Google Scholar    Search for Related Content  Social Bookmarking

What's this?

PubMed

Articles in PubMed by Author:    Workowski, K. A.    Douglas, J. M., Jr.    Related Articles in PubMed    PubMed Citation    PubMed

PERSPECTIVE

Emerging Antimicrobial Resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae: Urgent Need to Strengthen Prevention Strategies

Kimberly A. Workowski, MD; Stuart M. Berman, MD, ScM; and John M. Douglas, Jr., MD

15 April 2008 | Volume 148 Issue 8 | Pages 606-613

Prevention and control of gonorrhea is an important public health concern due to the high burden of disease, the recent increase in reported infection rates, and the reproductive and economic consequences of infection. Effective antibiotic treatment is one essential component of an integrated approach to gonorrhea control. Over the past 60 years, however, development of resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae to multiple antimicrobial classes challenges this component of gonorrhea control. An integrated, comprehensive prevention strategy should include enhancement of national and international surveillance systems to monitor antimicrobial resistance and new strategies to maximize the benefit and prolong the utility of antimicrobials, including combination regimens, implementation of screening recommendations for individuals at high risk for infection, and the assurance of prompt and effective treatment for infected persons and their sexual partners. Progress in controlling the epidemic and avoiding a resurgence as treatment options wane will require careful attention to all components of a comprehensive prevention strategy.

Author and Article Information

From the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Acknowledgment: The authors thank Hillard Weinstock, Eileen Yee, and the many clinicians and laboratory personnel for their substantial contributions to the Gonococcal Isolate Surveillance Project. They also thank Lori Newman for her contribution in the development of the CDC's 2006 STD Treatment Guidelines (43).

Potential Financial Conflicts of Interest: None disclosed.

Requests for Single Reprints: Kimberly A. Workowski, MD, 10 Corporate Square, Corporate Square Boulevard, Mailstop E02, Atlanta, GA 30333; e-mail, kgw2{at}cdc.gov.

Current Author Addresses: Drs. Workowski, Berman, and Douglas: 10 Corporate Square, Corporate Square Boulevard, Mailstop E02, Atlanta, GA 30333.

CiteULike

Complore

Connotea

Del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Reddit

Technorati

Twitter

Related articles in Annals:

Letters
Lack of Nationwide Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Japan
Takashi Deguchi, Mitsuru Yasuda, AND Shin-ichi Maeda

Annals 2008 149: 363-364. [Full Text]  

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Unemo, O. Fasth, H. Fredlund, A. Limnios, and J. Tapsall Phenotypic and genetic characterization of the 2008 WHO Neisseria gonorrhoeae reference strain panel intended for global quality assurance and quality control of gonococcal antimicrobial resistance surveillance for public health purposes J. Antimicrob. Chemother., June 1, 2009; 63(6): 1142 - 1151. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Tapsall, P. Read, C. Carmody, C. Bourne, S. Ray, A. Limnios, T. Sloots, and D. Whiley Two cases of failed ceftriaxone treatment in pharyngeal gonorrhoea verified by molecular microbiological methods J. Med. Microbiol., May 1, 2009; 58(5): 683 - 687. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Vernel-Pauillac, T. R. Hogan, J. W. Tapsall, and C. Goarant Quinolone Resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae: Rapid Genotyping of Quinolone Resistance-Determining Regions in gyrA and parC Genes by Melting Curve Analysis Predicts Susceptibility Antimicrob. Agents Chemother., March 1, 2009; 53(3): 1264 - 1267. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Tapsall MD Multidrug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae Can. Med. Assoc. J., February 3, 2009; 180(3): 268 - 269. [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. P. Folster, P. J. T. Johnson, L. Jackson, V. Dhulipali, D. W. Dyer, and W. M. Shafer MtrR Modulates rpoH Expression and Levels of Antimicrobial Resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae J. Bacteriol., January 1, 2009; 191(1): 287 - 297. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Deguchi, M. Yasuda, and S.-i. Maeda Lack of Nationwide Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Japan Ann Intern Med, September 2, 2008; 149(5): 363 - 364. [Full Text] [PDF]

				Correction: Emerging Antimicrobial Resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae Ann Intern Med, June 3, 2008; 148(11): 888 - 888. [Full Text] [PDF]

Rapid Responses: