Antimicrobial susceptibility profile of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated from patients attending a STD facility in Maputo, Mozambique.
OBJECTIVE
To ascertain the effectiveness of kanamycin for the treatment of gonorrhoea in Maputo, Mozambique.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study design was employed. Urethral and cervical specimens were collected for the isolation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from patients attending Centro de Saúde do Porto. Antimicrobial susceptibilities were determined for kanamycin, spectinomycin, ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, cefixime, tetracycline and penicillin.


RESULTS
Twenty-two (40%) Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates were intermediate and 4(7%) were resistant to kanamycin; 42(77%) displayed high level resistance to tetracycline (MIC > or = 16 mg/L); 34 (65%) were penicillinase producers, and 52 (95%) had spectinomycin MICs of 64 mg/L. All isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin (MIC < or = 0.06 mg/L), ceftriaxone (MIC < or = 0.015 mg/L) and cefixime (MIC < or = 0.015 mg/L).


CONCLUSIONS
The observations underscore the need for broader susceptibility surveillance studies to elucidate the pattern and extent of drug resistance in Mozambique. A review of the current treatment guidelines for genital discharge syndrome is warranted.
Apalata
Teke
T
Department of Medical Microbiology, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Zimba
Tomas F
TF
Sturm
Willem A
WA
Moodley
Prashini
P
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007612:Kanamycin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009073:Mozambique; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D014526:Urethritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010406:Penicillins; D007612:Kanamycin