Antimicrobial susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrheae strains in three regions of Armenia.
OBJECTIVE
There are no data available on gonococcal susceptibility in the Caucasus region. We aimed to determine in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrheae in Armenia in order to update the national treatment protocol.


METHODS
Isolates from men with urethral discharge presenting at 3 STI clinics in 3 different sites of Armenia were used to determine susceptibility of N. gonorrheae strains for 11 antimicrobials using the disc diffusion technique.


RESULTS
Among the 101 isolates tested the susceptibility rate for penicillin, doxycycline, and kanamycin were 37.6, 25.7, and 80.2%, respectively. Sensitivity to quinolones was 95% for both ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin. All strains were susceptible to third-generation cephalosporins and to spectinomycin. Only 11% of strains were susceptible to all antibiotics tested.


CONCLUSIONS
Third-generation cephalosporines and spectinomycin are suitable first-line regimens. Quinolones are not advisable as first-line treatment given current borderline susceptibility, known tendency for rapid resistance development in this class, and frequent over-the-counter use of this antibiotic in Armenia.
Hovhannisyan
Gayane
G
Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Canada. Gayane.Hovhannisyan@uhnres.utoronto.ca
von Schoen-Angerer
Tido
T
Babayan
Karen
K
Fenichiu
Olivier
O
Gaboulaud
Valerie
V
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001136:Armenia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007612:Kanamycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000187:drug effects*; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010406:Penicillins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010406:Penicillins; D007612:Kanamycin; D002939:Ciprofloxacin; D015242:Ofloxacin; D004318:Doxycycline