title: An evaluation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae antimicrobial susceptibility testing in the UK.
abstract: The only method currently available to perform Neisseria gonorrhoeae antimicrobial susceptibility testing (Ng-AST) requires a viable organism obtained by culture. Reports of in vitro resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporins, the treatment of choice for gonorrhoea, coupled with increasing gonorrhoea diagnoses is worrying. The aim of this study was to identify various methodologies employed by the UK microbiology laboratories to perform Ng-AST. Of the 118 laboratories that responded, 114 offered Ng-AST; the majority (82.5%, 94/114) of the laboratories used British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy methodology for Ng-AST. The other main findings were infrequent use of quality control procedures and inconsistent susceptibility testing of the antibiotics used routinely for treatment.
authors: Sexually Transmitted Bacteria Reference Unit, Public Health England, London, UK.
authors: Anu
authors: A
authors: Jain
authors: Sexually Transmitted Bacteria Reference Unit, Public Health England, London, UK.
authors: Michelle J
authors: MJ
authors: Cole
authors: St. George's University of London, London, UK.
authors: Tim
authors: T
authors: Planche
authors: Sexually Transmitted Bacteria Reference Unit, Public Health England, London, UK.
authors: Catherine A
authors: CA
authors: Ison
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000592:standards; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories / Q000592:standards*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000592:standards*; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011786:Quality Control; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care / Q000592:standards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Antibiotics; Antimicrobial Resistance; Laboratory Tests; Microbiology; Sexually Transmitted Diseases