Antimicrobial resistance patterns (1999-2002) and characterization of ciprofloxacin-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Korea.
BACKGROUND
Antimicrobial susceptibilities of Neisseria gonorrhoeae were monitored during 4 years. In Korea, ciprofloxacin-resistant N. gonorrhoeae has dramatically increased after recommendation as a therapeutic drug.


OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to determine the resistance patterns and characterize Korean ciprofloxacin-resistant N. gonorrhoeae.


METHODS
Antimicrobial susceptibilities were performed. PFGE profile and DNA sequencing of gyrA and parC genes were used to characterize the ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates in Korea.


RESULTS
Tetracycline, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates were increased and among them, the proportion of isolates resistant to ciprofloxacin increased remarkably from 1% in 1999 to 48.8% in 2002. Fifteen different types by PFGE profile were identified. Major alteration type was M12 (67%), which have amino acid substitution in gyrA (S-91-->F, D-95-->G) and parC (S-87-->A).


CONCLUSIONS
We could conclude that resistance for ciprofloxacin was remarkably increased during 4 years. Ciprofloxacin-resistant N. gonorrhoeae was supposed by the spread of several strains that had a small number of origins.
Yoo
Jeongsik
J
Research Center for Pathogen Control, Department of Bacteriology, National Institute of Health, Korea.
Yoo
Cheonkwon
C
Cho
Yoonju
Y
Park
Hyunjeong
H
Oh
Hee-Bok
HB
Seong
Won Keun
WK
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027081:DNA Gyrase / Q000235:genetics; D027101:DNA Topoisomerase IV / Q000235:genetics; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D009154:Mutation; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002939:Ciprofloxacin; D027101:DNA Topoisomerase IV; D027081:DNA Gyrase