%0 Journal Article %1 starnino_azithromycin-resistant_2009 %A Starnino, S %A Stefanelli, P %D 2009 %J The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy %K Adult Adult, Aged, Agents, Analysis, Azithromycin, Bacterial Bacterial, Cluster Drug Epidemiology, Female, Fingerprinting, Genotype, Gonorrhea, Humans, Italy, Male, Microbial Middle Molecular, Neisseria Resistance, Sensitivity Sequence Techniques, Tests, Typing Young gonorrhoeae, {Anti-Bacterial} {DNA,} {DNA} %N 6 %P 1200--1204 %R 10.1093/jac/dkp118 %T Azithromycin-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains recently isolated in Italy %U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19357159 %V 63 %X OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to characterize 22 azithromycin-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates, collected in Italy from January 2007 through June 2008, during a study of the prevalence of antibiotic resistance. METHODS: MICs of azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, penicillin and tetracycline were determined by the Etest method. Azithromycin-resistant strains (MIC \textgreater or = 1 mg/L) were genetically analysed by N. gonorrhoeae multi-antigen sequence typing (NG-MAST) and PFGE. RESULTS: A total of 22 azithromycin-resistant isolates were found among the 219 collected. Five of the 22 isolates showed high-level azithromycin resistance (MICs of 128 or 256 mg/L). Sixteen of the 22 were isolated from men who have sex with men. Among the 14 sequence types (STs) found by NG-MAST, 5 STs, containing clusters of two, three or four strains, were homogeneous with respect to epidemiology and/or antibiotic susceptibility. PFGE divided the 22 strains into two main groups that were possibly related. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of gonococci with high-level resistance to azithromycin circulating in Italy. Correlation between NG-MAST results and epidemiological data for some of the analysed strains and patients could be established. This study represents a reference point for future surveillance in Italy and suggests the need to add azithromycin to the antibiotic susceptibility panel for gonococci.

@article{starnino_azithromycin-resistant_2009, abstract = {{OBJECTIVES:} The aim of this study was to characterize 22 azithromycin-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates, collected in Italy from January 2007 through June 2008, during a study of the prevalence of antibiotic resistance. {METHODS:} {MICs} of azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, penicillin and tetracycline were determined by the Etest method. Azithromycin-resistant strains {(MIC} {\textgreater} or = 1 {mg/L)} were genetically analysed by N. gonorrhoeae multi-antigen sequence typing {(NG-MAST)} and {PFGE.} {RESULTS:} A total of 22 azithromycin-resistant isolates were found among the 219 collected. Five of the 22 isolates showed high-level azithromycin resistance {(MICs} of 128 or 256 {mg/L).} Sixteen of the 22 were isolated from men who have sex with men. Among the 14 sequence types {(STs)} found by {NG-MAST,} 5 {STs,} containing clusters of two, three or four strains, were homogeneous with respect to epidemiology and/or antibiotic susceptibility. {PFGE} divided the 22 strains into two main groups that were possibly related. {CONCLUSIONS:} This is the first report of gonococci with high-level resistance to azithromycin circulating in Italy. Correlation between {NG-MAST} results and epidemiological data for some of the analysed strains and patients could be established. This study represents a reference point for future surveillance in Italy and suggests the need to add azithromycin to the antibiotic susceptibility panel for gonococci.}, added-at = {2011-03-11T10:05:34.000+0100}, author = {Starnino, S and Stefanelli, P}, biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/245b5a3b1abc68d608ed1c111574db44e/jelias}, doi = {10.1093/jac/dkp118}, interhash = {99aeb56886897de00a08b5b4ae1decb5}, intrahash = {45b5a3b1abc68d608ed1c111574db44e}, issn = {1460-2091}, journal = {The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy}, keywords = {Adult Adult, Aged, Agents, Analysis, Azithromycin, Bacterial Bacterial, Cluster Drug Epidemiology, Female, Fingerprinting, Genotype, Gonorrhea, Humans, Italy, Male, Microbial Middle Molecular, Neisseria Resistance, Sensitivity Sequence Techniques, Tests, Typing Young gonorrhoeae, {Anti-Bacterial} {DNA,} {DNA}}, month = jun, note = {{PMID:} 19357159}, number = 6, pages = {1200--1204}, timestamp = {2011-03-11T10:06:38.000+0100}, title = {Azithromycin-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains recently isolated in Italy}, url = {http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19357159}, volume = 63, year = 2009 }