[Resistance of gonococci in the Netherlands; results of a survey of medical microbiology laboratories].
OBJECTIVE
To collect information about the incidence ofgonorrhoea and gonococcal resistance in the Netherlands.


METHODS
A questionnaire was sent to 39 medical microbiology laboratories to obtain information on current diagnostics and the susceptibility testing method, and on the number of positive results and the susceptibility pattern of gonococcal isolates in 2002 and 2003 (up to and including November).


RESULTS
32 laboratories participated in this survey. 13 laboratories used culture alone and 19 laboratories used culture and/or a molecular test. Gonorrhoea was diagnosed 2,666 times in 2002 and 2,190 times in 2003, with an incidence of 33.5 and 27.0 per 100,000 inhabitants, respectively. The rate of resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics (penicillin and amoxicillin) was 12.2% and 10.7% in 2002 and 2003, respectively, and the rates of resistance to tetracycline were 18.5% and 20.6%. An increase in the resistance to quinolones was observed from 6.6% in 2002 to 9.5% in 2003. Resistance to cephalosporins was low (0.5% in 2002 and 1.2% in 2003). Furthermore, regional differences in susceptibility were found within the Netherlands.


CONCLUSIONS
The observed gonococcal incidence and resistance form the basis for a gonorrhoea prevention and treatment programme in the Netherlands.
van Loo
I H M
IH
Streeklaboratorium voor de Volksgezondheid Tilburg, Tilburg.
Spaargaren
J
J
van de Laar
M J W
MJ
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007753:Laboratories / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000187:drug effects*; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents