title: Trends of chromosomally mediated antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Canada: 1994-1999.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We monitored the trends of chromosomally mediated resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae (CMRNG) in Canada. Chromosomally resistant N. gonorrhoeae (CMRNG) were defined as having resistance to 3 antibiotics: penicillin (minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] > or =2.0 mg/L), tetracycline (MIC > or =2.0 mg/L and < or =8.0 mg/L), and erythromycin (MIC > or =2.0 mg/L).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The goal was to provide surveillance data for public health interventions for the control of gonococcal infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  Antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed on N. gonorrhoeae isolates obtained from 1994 to 1999 in Canada. Strains were further characterized by auxotype (A), serovar (S), and plasmid profile (P).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 1994 and 1999, 19.2% of strains were CMRNG, 12.9% had a combined resistance to tetracycline and erythromycin, and 4.7% were resistant to tetracycline. The incidence of ciprofloxacin resistance and azithromycin resistance was 2.3% and 0.8%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This survey of N. gonorrhoeae provides strain characterization data and temporal trends of strains in the Canadian population. CMRNG strains are on the rise, and the continual monitoring and characterization of these strains is important for the evaluation of current recommended antibiotic therapies used in Canada.
authors.affiliation: National Microbial Laboratory, Population and Public Health Branch, Health Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Lai_King_Ng@hc-sc.gc.ca
authors.forename: Lai-King
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lau
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D010403:Penicillin Resistance / Q000235:genetics; D010406:Penicillins / Q000494:pharmacology; D010957:Plasmids; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000494:pharmacology; D013753:Tetracycline Resistance / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D010406:Penicillins; D004917:Erythromycin; D013752:Tetracycline