Genomic Characterization of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Strains from 2016 U.S. Sentinel Surveillance Displaying Reduced Susceptibility to Azithromycin

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2020 Apr 21;64(5):e02420-19. doi: 10.1128/AAC.02420-19. Print 2020 Apr 21.

Abstract

In 2016, the proportion of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates with reduced susceptibility to azithromycin rose to 3.6%. A phylogenetic analysis of 334 N. gonorrhoeae isolates collected in 2016 revealed a single, geographically diverse lineage of isolates with MICs of 2 to 16 μg/ml that carried a mosaic-like mtr locus, whereas the majority of isolates with MICs of ≥16 μg/ml appeared sporadically and carried 23S rRNA mutations. Continued molecular surveillance of N. gonorrhoeae isolates will identify new resistance mechanisms.

Keywords: 23S rRNA; Neisseria gonorrhoeae; antimicrobial resistance; azithromycin; mosaic-like mtrR.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Azithromycin / pharmacology*
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial / genetics*
  • Genetic Loci / genetics
  • Gonorrhea / epidemiology
  • Gonorrhea / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Molecular Epidemiology
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae / drug effects*
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae / genetics*
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 23S / genetics
  • Sentinel Surveillance*
  • United States / epidemiology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 23S
  • Azithromycin