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Reichert E, Yaesoubi R, Rönn MM, Gift TL, Salomon JA, Grad YH. Resistance-minimising strategies for introducing a novel antibiotic for gonorrhoea treatment: a mathematical modelling study. THE LANCET. MICROBE 2023; 4:e781-e789. [PMID: 37619582 PMCID: PMC10865326 DOI: 10.1016/s2666-5247(23)00145-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gonorrhoea is a highly prevalent sexually transmitted infection and an urgent public health concern because of increasing antibiotic resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Only ceftriaxone remains as the recommended treatment in the USA. With the prospect of new anti-gonococcal antibiotics being approved, we aimed to evaluate how to deploy a new drug to maximise its clinically useful lifespan. METHODS We used a compartmental model of gonorrhoea transmission in a US population of men who have sex with men (MSM) to compare strategies for introducing a new antibiotic for gonorrhoea treatment. The MSM population was stratified into three sexual activity groups (low, intermediate, and high) characterised by annual rates of partner change. The four introduction strategies tested were: (1) random 50-50 allocation, where each treatment-seeking infected individual had a 50% probability of receiving either drug A (current drug; a ceftriaxone-like antibiotic) or drug B (a new antibiotic), effective at time 0; (2) combination therapy of both the current drug and the new antibiotic; (3) reserve strategy, by which the new antibiotic was held in reserve until the current therapy reached a 5% threshold prevalence of resistance; and (4) gradual switch, or the gradual introduction of the new drug until random 50-50 allocation was reached. The primary outcome of interest was the time until 5% prevalence of resistance to each of the drugs (the new drug and the current ceftriaxone-like antibiotic); sensitivity of the primary outcome to the properties of the new antibiotic, specifically the probability of resistance emergence after treatment and the fitness costs of resistance, was explored. Secondary outcomes included the time to a 1% resistance threshold for each drug, as well as population-level prevalence, mean and range annual incidence, and the cumulative number of incident gonococcal infections. FINDINGS Under baseline model conditions, a 5% prevalence of resistance to each of drugs A and B was reached within 13·9 years with the reserve strategy, 18·2 years with the gradual switch strategy, 19·2 years with the random 50-50 allocation strategy, and 19·9 years with the combination therapy strategy. The reserve strategy was consistently inferior for mitigating antibiotic resistance under the parameter space explored and was increasingly outperformed by the other strategies as the probability of de novo resistance emergence decreased and as the fitness costs associated with resistance increased. Combination therapy tended to prolong the development of antibiotic resistance and minimise the number of annual gonococcal infections (under baseline model conditions, mean number of incident infections per year 178 641 [range 177 998-181 731] with combination therapy, 180 084 [178 011-184 405] with the reserve strategy). INTERPRETATION Our study argues for rapid introduction of new anti-gonococcal antibiotics, recognising that the feasibility of each strategy must incorporate cost, safety, and other practical concerns. The analyses should be revisited once robust estimates of key parameters-ie, the likelihood of emergence of resistance and fitness costs of resistance for the new antibiotic-are available. FUNDING US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Reichert
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Reza Yaesoubi
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Minttu M Rönn
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Thomas L Gift
- Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Joshua A Salomon
- Department of Health Policy, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Yonatan H Grad
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
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Reichert E, Yaesoubi R, Rönn MM, Gift TL, Salomon JA, Grad YH. Resistance-minimizing strategies for introducing a novel antibiotic for gonorrhea treatment: a mathematical modeling study. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.02.14.23285710. [PMID: 36824857 PMCID: PMC9949214 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.14.23285710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Background Gonorrhea is a highly prevalent sexually transmitted infection and an urgent public health concern due to increasing antibiotic resistance. Only ceftriaxone remains as the recommended treatment in the U.S. The prospect of approval of new anti-gonococcal antibiotics raises the question of how to deploy a new drug to maximize its clinically useful lifespan. Methods We used a compartmental model of gonorrhea transmission in the U.S. population of men who have sex with men to compare strategies for introducing a new antibiotic for gonorrhea treatment. The strategies tested included holding the new antibiotic in reserve until the current therapy reached a threshold prevalence of resistance; using either drug, considering immediate and gradual introduction of the new drug; and combination therapy. The primary outcome of interest was the time until 5% prevalence of resistance to both the novel drug and to the current first-line drug (ceftriaxone). Findings The reserve strategy was consistently inferior for mitigating antibiotic resistance under the parameter space explored. The reserve strategy was increasingly outperformed by the other strategies as the probability of de novo resistance emergence decreased and as the fitness costs associated with resistance increased. Combination therapy tended to prolong the development of antibiotic resistance and minimize the number of annual gonococcal infections. Interpretation Our study argues for rapid introduction of new anti-gonococcal antibiotics, recognizing that the feasibility of each strategy must incorporate cost, safety, and other practical concerns. The analyses should be revisited once robust estimates of key parameters-likelihood of emergence of resistance and fitness costs of resistance for the new antibiotic-are available. Funding U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Reichert
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - R Yaesoubi
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - M M Rönn
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - T L Gift
- Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - J A Salomon
- Department of Health Policy, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Y H Grad
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Uecker H, Bonhoeffer S. Antibiotic treatment protocols revisited: the challenges of a conclusive assessment by mathematical modelling. J R Soc Interface 2021; 18:20210308. [PMID: 34428945 PMCID: PMC8385374 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2021.0308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hospital-acquired bacterial infections lead to prolonged hospital stays and increased mortality. The problem is exacerbated by antibiotic-resistant strains that delay or impede effective treatment. To ensure successful therapy and to manage antibiotic resistance, treatment protocols that draw on several different antibiotics might be used. This includes the administration of drug cocktails to individual patients (combination therapy) but also the random assignment of drugs to different patients (mixing) and a regular switch in the default drug used in the hospital from drug A to drug B and back (cycling). For more than 20 years, mathematical models have been used to assess the prospects of antibiotic combination therapy, mixing and cycling. But while tendencies in their ranking across studies have emerged, the picture remains surprisingly inconclusive and incomplete. In this article, we review existing modelling studies and demonstrate by means of examples how methodological factors complicate the emergence of a consistent picture. These factors include the choice of the criterion by which the effects of the protocols are compared, the model implementation and its analysis. We thereafter discuss how progress can be made and suggest future modelling directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hildegard Uecker
- Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zurich, Universitätstrasse 16, Zurich 8092, Switzerland.,Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, August-Thienemann-Strasse 2, Plön 24306, Germany
| | - Sebastian Bonhoeffer
- Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zurich, Universitätstrasse 16, Zurich 8092, Switzerland
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Angst DC, Tepekule B, Sun L, Bogos B, Bonhoeffer S. Comparing treatment strategies to reduce antibiotic resistance in an in vitro epidemiological setting. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2023467118. [PMID: 33766914 PMCID: PMC8020770 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2023467118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The rapid rise of antibiotic resistance, combined with the increasing cost and difficulties to develop new antibiotics, calls for treatment strategies that enable more sustainable antibiotic use. The development of such strategies, however, is impeded by the lack of suitable experimental approaches that allow testing their effects under realistic epidemiological conditions. Here, we present an approach to compare the effect of alternative multidrug treatment strategies in vitro using a robotic liquid-handling platform. We use this framework to study resistance evolution and spread implementing epidemiological population dynamics for treatment, transmission, and patient admission and discharge, as may be observed in hospitals. We perform massively parallel experimental evolution over up to 40 d and complement this with a computational model to infer the underlying population-dynamical parameters. We find that in our study, combination therapy outperforms monotherapies, as well as cycling and mixing, in minimizing resistance evolution and maximizing uninfecteds, as long as there is no influx of double resistance into the focal treated community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel C Angst
- Institute of Integrative Biology, Department for Environmental System Science, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Burcu Tepekule
- Institute of Integrative Biology, Department for Environmental System Science, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lei Sun
- Institute of Integrative Biology, Department for Environmental System Science, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Balázs Bogos
- Institute of Integrative Biology, Department for Environmental System Science, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sebastian Bonhoeffer
- Institute of Integrative Biology, Department for Environmental System Science, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
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Facing increased sexually transmitted infection incidence in HIV preexposure prophylaxis cohorts: what are the underlying determinants and what can be done? Curr Opin Infect Dis 2021; 33:51-58. [PMID: 31789694 DOI: 10.1097/qco.0000000000000621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The combined incidence of chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis in MSM PrEP (preexposure prophylaxis) cohorts now frequently exceeds 100 per 100 person years. The efficacy of antiretroviral PrEP in reducing HIV transmission has led to efforts to find similar biomedical ways reduce sexually transmitted infection (STI) incidence. We review the recent evidence for these and other strategies. RECENT FINDINGS Doxycycline PrEP/postexposure prophylaxis has been shown to reduce the incidence of syphilis and chlamydia but not gonorrhoea. A meningococcal vaccine has been found to result in a lower incidence of gonorrhoea. Novel insights into the role of the pharynx in the transmission of gonorrhoea have led to clinical trials of oral antiseptics to reduce the spread of gonorrhoea. Intensified STI screening has been introduced in a number of clinics. Serious concerns have however been raised about the emergence of resistance to each of these strategies. This is particularly true for doxycycline PrEP which is not advocated by any guidelines we reviewed. SUMMARY Randomized controlled trials are urgently required to ascertain the benefits and risks of interventions to reduce STIs in MSM PrEP cohorts.
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Town K, Harris S, Sánchez-Busó L, Cole MJ, Pitt R, Fifer H, Mohammed H, Field N, Hughes G. Genomic and Phenotypic Variability in Neisseria gonorrhoeae Antimicrobial Susceptibility, England. Emerg Infect Dis 2021; 26:505-515. [PMID: 32091356 PMCID: PMC7045833 DOI: 10.3201/eid2603.190732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a global concern. Phylogenetic analyses resolve uncertainties regarding genetic relatedness of isolates with identical phenotypes and inform whether AMR is due to new mutations and clonal expansion or separate introductions by importation. We sequenced 1,277 isolates with associated epidemiologic and antimicrobial susceptibility data collected during 2013–2016 to investigate N. gonorrhoeae genomic variability in England. Comparing genetic markers and phenotypes for AMR, we identified 2 N. gonorrhoeae lineages with different antimicrobial susceptibility profiles and 3 clusters with elevated MICs for ceftriaxone, varying mutations in the penA allele, and different epidemiologic characteristics. Our results indicate N. gonorrhoeae with reduced antimicrobial susceptibility emerged independently and multiple times in different sexual networks in England, through new mutation or recombination events and by importation. Monitoring and control for AMR in N. gonorrhoeae should cover the entire population affected, rather than focusing on specific risk groups or locations.
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Smid JH, Althaus CL, Low N, Unemo M, Herrmann B. Rise and fall of the new variant of Chlamydia trachomatis in Sweden: mathematical modelling study. Sex Transm Infect 2019; 96:375-379. [PMID: 31586947 PMCID: PMC7402554 DOI: 10.1136/sextrans-2019-054057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives A new variant of Chlamydia trachomatis (nvCT) was discovered in Sweden in 2006. The nvCT has a plasmid deletion, which escaped detection by two nucleic acid amplification tests (Abbott-Roche, AR), which were used in 14 of 21 Swedish counties. The objectives of this study were to assess when and where nvCT emerged in Sweden, the proportion of nvCT in each county and the role of a potential fitness difference between nvCT and co-circulating wild-type strains (wtCT). Methods We used a compartmental mathematical model describing the spatial and temporal spread of nvCT and wtCT. We parameterised the model using sexual behaviour data and Swedish spatial and demographic data. We used Bayesian inference to fit the model to surveillance data about reported diagnoses of chlamydia infection in each county and data from four counties that assessed the proportion of nvCT in multiple years. Results Model results indicated that nvCT emerged in central Sweden (Dalarna, Gävleborg, Västernorrland), reaching a proportion of 1% of prevalent CT infections in late 2002 or early 2003. The diagnostic selective advantage enabled rapid spread of nvCT in the presence of high treatment rates. After detection, the proportion of nvCT decreased from 30%–70% in AR counties and 5%–20% in counties that Becton Dickinson tests, to around 5% in 2015 in all counties. The decrease in nvCT was consistent with an estimated fitness cost of around 5% in transmissibility or 17% reduction in infectious duration. Conclusions We reconstructed the course of a natural experiment in which a mutant strain of C. trachomatis spread across Sweden. Our modelling study provides support, for the first time, of a reduced transmissibility or infectious duration of nvCT. This mathematical model improved our understanding of the first nvCT epidemic in Sweden and can be adapted to investigate the impact of future diagnostic escape mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joost H Smid
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Christian L Althaus
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nicola Low
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Magnus Unemo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Bjőrn Herrmann
- Section of Clinical Bacteriology, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Niewiadomska AM, Jayabalasingham B, Seidman JC, Willem L, Grenfell B, Spiro D, Viboud C. Population-level mathematical modeling of antimicrobial resistance: a systematic review. BMC Med 2019; 17:81. [PMID: 31014341 PMCID: PMC6480522 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-019-1314-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mathematical transmission models are increasingly used to guide public health interventions for infectious diseases, particularly in the context of emerging pathogens; however, the contribution of modeling to the growing issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains unclear. Here, we systematically evaluate publications on population-level transmission models of AMR over a recent period (2006-2016) to gauge the state of research and identify gaps warranting further work. METHODS We performed a systematic literature search of relevant databases to identify transmission studies of AMR in viral, bacterial, and parasitic disease systems. We analyzed the temporal, geographic, and subject matter trends, described the predominant medical and behavioral interventions studied, and identified central findings relating to key pathogens. RESULTS We identified 273 modeling studies; the majority of which (> 70%) focused on 5 infectious diseases (human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), influenza virus, Plasmodium falciparum (malaria), Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB), and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)). AMR studies of influenza and nosocomial pathogens were mainly set in industrialized nations, while HIV, TB, and malaria studies were heavily skewed towards developing countries. The majority of articles focused on AMR exclusively in humans (89%), either in community (58%) or healthcare (27%) settings. Model systems were largely compartmental (76%) and deterministic (66%). Only 43% of models were calibrated against epidemiological data, and few were validated against out-of-sample datasets (14%). The interventions considered were primarily the impact of different drug regimens, hygiene and infection control measures, screening, and diagnostics, while few studies addressed de novo resistance, vaccination strategies, economic, or behavioral changes to reduce antibiotic use in humans and animals. CONCLUSIONS The AMR modeling literature concentrates on disease systems where resistance has been long-established, while few studies pro-actively address recent rise in resistance in new pathogens or explore upstream strategies to reduce overall antibiotic consumption. Notable gaps include research on emerging resistance in Enterobacteriaceae and Neisseria gonorrhoeae; AMR transmission at the animal-human interface, particularly in agricultural and veterinary settings; transmission between hospitals and the community; the role of environmental factors in AMR transmission; and the potential of vaccines to combat AMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Maria Niewiadomska
- Division of International Epidemiology and Population Studies, Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Bamini Jayabalasingham
- Division of International Epidemiology and Population Studies, Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA.,Present Address: Elsevier Inc., 230 Park Ave, Suite B00, New York, NY, 10169, USA
| | - Jessica C Seidman
- Division of International Epidemiology and Population Studies, Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | | | - Bryan Grenfell
- Division of International Epidemiology and Population Studies, Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA.,Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - David Spiro
- Division of International Epidemiology and Population Studies, Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Cecile Viboud
- Division of International Epidemiology and Population Studies, Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA.
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An Illustration of the Potential Health and Economic Benefits of Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Gonorrhea. Sex Transm Dis 2019; 45:250-253. [PMID: 29465709 DOI: 10.1097/olq.0000000000000725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Preventing the emergence of ceftriaxone-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae can potentially avert hundreds of millions of dollars in direct medical costs of gonorrhea and gonorrhea-attributable HIV infections. In the illustrative scenario we examined, emerging ceftriaxone resistance could lead to 1.2 million additional N. gonorrhoeae infections within 10 years, costing $378.2 million.
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Application of dynamic modelling techniques to the problem of antibacterial use and resistance: a scoping review. Epidemiol Infect 2018; 146:2014-2027. [PMID: 30062979 DOI: 10.1017/s0950268818002091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Selective pressure exerted by the widespread use of antibacterial drugs is accelerating the development of resistant bacterial populations. The purpose of this scoping review was to summarise the range of studies that use dynamic models to analyse the problem of bacterial resistance in relation to antibacterial use in human and animal populations. A comprehensive search of the peer-reviewed literature was performed and non-duplicate articles (n = 1486) were screened in several stages. Charting questions were used to extract information from the articles included in the final subset (n = 81). Most studies (86%) represent the system of interest with an aggregate model; individual-based models are constructed in only seven articles. There are few examples of inter-host models outside of human healthcare (41%) and community settings (38%). Resistance is modelled for a non-specific bacterial organism and/or antibiotic in 40% and 74% of the included articles, respectively. Interventions with implications for antibacterial use were investigated in 67 articles and included changes to total antibiotic consumption, strategies for drug management and shifts in category/class use. The quality of documentation related to model assumptions and uncertainty varies considerably across this subset of articles. There is substantial room to improve the transparency of reporting in the antibacterial resistance modelling literature as is recommended by best practice guidelines.
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Test of cure, retesting and extragenital testing practices for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae among general practitioners in different socioeconomic status areas: A retrospective cohort study, 2011-2016. PLoS One 2018. [PMID: 29538469 PMCID: PMC5851648 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background For Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), a test of cure (TOC) within 3–5 weeks is not recommended. International guidelines differ in advising a Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) TOC. Retesting CT and NG positives within 3–12 months is recommended in international guidelines. We assessed TOC and retesting practices including extragenital testing in general practitioner (GP) practices located in different socioeconomic status (SES) areas to inform and optimize local test practices. Methods Laboratory data of 48 Dutch GP practices between January 2011 and July 2016 were used. Based on a patient’s first positive CT or NG test, the proportion of TOC (<3 months) and retests (3–12 months) were calculated. Patient- and GP-related factors were assessed using multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results For CT (n = 622), 20% had a TOC and 24% had a retest at the GP practice. GP practices in low SES areas were more likely to perform a CT TOC (OR:1.8;95%CI:1.1–3.1). Younger patients (<25 years) were more likely to have a CT TOC (OR:1.6;95%CI:1.0–2.4). For CT (n = 622), 2.4% had a TOC and 6.1% had a retest at another STI care provider. For NG (n = 73), 25% had a TOC and 15% had a retest at the GP practice. For NG (n = 73), 2.7% had a TOC and 12.3% had a retest at another STI care provider. In only 0.3% of the consultations patients were tested on extragenital sites. Conclusion Almost 20% of the patients returned for a CT TOC, especially at GP practices in low SES areas. For NG, 1 out of 4 patients returned for a TOC. Retesting rates were low for both CT (24%) and NG (15%), (re)infections including extragenital infections may be missed. Efforts are required to focus TOC and increase retesting practices of GPs in order to improve CT/NG control.
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Tuite AR, Gift TL, Chesson HW, Hsu K, Salomon JA, Grad YH. Impact of Rapid Susceptibility Testing and Antibiotic Selection Strategy on the Emergence and Spread of Antibiotic Resistance in Gonorrhea. J Infect Dis 2017; 216:1141-1149. [PMID: 28968710 PMCID: PMC5853443 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jix450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Increasing antibiotic resistance limits treatment options for gonorrhea. We examined the impact of a hypothetical point-of-care (POC) test reporting antibiotic susceptibility profiles on slowing resistance spread. Methods A mathematical model describing gonorrhea transmission incorporated resistance emergence probabilities and fitness costs associated with resistance based on characteristics of ciprofloxacin (A), azithromycin (B), and ceftriaxone (C). We evaluated time to 1% and 5% prevalence of resistant strains among all isolates with the following: (1) empiric treatment (B and C), and treatment guided by POC tests determining susceptibility to (2) A only and (3) all 3 antibiotics. Results Continued empiric treatment without POC testing was projected to result in >5% of isolates being resistant to both B and C within 15 years. Use of either POC test in 10% of identified cases delayed this by 5 years. The 3 antibiotic POC test delayed the time to reach 1% prevalence of triply-resistant strains by 6 years, whereas the A-only test resulted in no delay. Results were less sensitive to assumptions about fitness costs and test characteristics with increasing test uptake. Conclusions Rapid diagnostics reporting antibiotic susceptibility may extend the usefulness of existing antibiotics for gonorrhea treatment, but ongoing monitoring of resistance patterns will be critical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashleigh R Tuite
- Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Thomas L Gift
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | | | | | - Joshua A Salomon
- Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yonatan H Grad
- Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
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Cost-Effectiveness of Dual Antimicrobial Therapy for Gonococcal Infections Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in the Netherlands. Sex Transm Dis 2017; 43:542-8. [PMID: 27513379 DOI: 10.1097/olq.0000000000000480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In response to the rising threat of resistance to first-line antibiotics for gonorrhea, international guidelines recommend dual antimicrobial therapy. However, some countries continue to recommend monotherapy. We assess the cost-effectiveness of dual therapy with ceftriaxone and azithromycin compared with monotherapy with ceftriaxone, for control of gonorrhea among men who have sex with men in the Netherlands. METHODS We developed a transmission model and calculated the numbers of new gonorrhea infections, consultations at health care specialists, tests, and antibiotic doses. With these numbers, we calculated costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALY) with each treatment; and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of dual therapy compared to monotherapy. The impact of gonorrhea on human immunodeficiency virus transmission was not included in the model. RESULTS In the absence of initial resistance, dual therapy can delay the spread of ceftriaxone resistance by at least 15 years, compared to monotherapy. In the beginning, when there is no resistance, dual therapy results in high additional costs, without any QALY gains. When resistance spreads over time, the additional costs of dual therapy decline, the gained QALYs increase, the ICER drops off and, after 50 years, falls below &OV0556;20,000 per QALY gained. If azithromycin resistance is initially prevalent, resistance to the first-line treatment rises almost equally fast with both treatment strategies and the ICER remains extremely high. CONCLUSIONS Compared with ceftriaxone monotherapy, dual therapy with ceftriaxone and azithromycin can considerably delay the spread of ceftriaxone resistance, but may only be cost-effective in the long run and in the absence of initial resistance.
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Modeling antibiotic treatment in hospitals: A systematic approach shows benefits of combination therapy over cycling, mixing, and mono-drug therapies. PLoS Comput Biol 2017; 13:e1005745. [PMID: 28915236 PMCID: PMC5600366 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2017] [Accepted: 08/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple treatment strategies are available for empiric antibiotic therapy in hospitals, but neither clinical studies nor theoretical investigations have yielded a clear picture when which strategy is optimal and why. Extending earlier work of others and us, we present a mathematical model capturing treatment strategies using two drugs, i.e the multi-drug therapies referred to as cycling, mixing, and combination therapy, as well as monotherapy with either drug. We randomly sample a large parameter space to determine the conditions determining success or failure of these strategies. We find that combination therapy tends to outperform the other treatment strategies. By using linear discriminant analysis and particle swarm optimization, we find that the most important parameters determining success or failure of combination therapy relative to the other treatment strategies are the de novo rate of emergence of double resistance in patients infected with sensitive bacteria and the fitness costs associated with double resistance. The rate at which double resistance is imported into the hospital via patients admitted from the outside community has little influence, as all treatment strategies are affected equally. The parameter sets for which combination therapy fails tend to fall into areas with low biological plausibility as they are characterised by very high rates of de novo emergence of resistance to both drugs compared to a single drug, and the cost of double resistance is considerably smaller than the sum of the costs of single resistance.
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Unemo M, Bradshaw CS, Hocking JS, de Vries HJC, Francis SC, Mabey D, Marrazzo JM, Sonder GJB, Schwebke JR, Hoornenborg E, Peeling RW, Philip SS, Low N, Fairley CK. Sexually transmitted infections: challenges ahead. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2017; 17:e235-e279. [PMID: 28701272 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(17)30310-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 441] [Impact Index Per Article: 63.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2016] [Revised: 03/13/2017] [Accepted: 03/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
WHO estimated that nearly 1 million people become infected every day with any of four curable sexually transmitted infections (STIs): chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis. Despite their high global incidence, STIs remain a neglected area of research. In this Commission, we have prioritised five areas that represent particular challenges in STI treatment and control. Chlamydia remains the most commonly diagnosed bacterial STI in high-income countries despite widespread testing recommendations, sensitive and specific non-invasive testing techniques, and cheap effective therapy. We discuss the challenges for chlamydia control and evidence to support a shift from the current focus on infection-based screening to improved management of diagnosed cases and of chlamydial morbidity, such as pelvic inflammatory disease. The emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae is globally recognised. We review current and potential future control and treatment strategies, with a focus on novel antimicrobials. Bacterial vaginosis is the most common vaginal disorder in women, but current treatments are associated with frequent recurrence. Recurrence after treatment might relate to evidence that suggests sexual transmission is integral to the pathogenesis of bacterial vaginosis, which has substantial implications for the development of effective management approaches. STIs disproportionately affect low-income and middle-income countries. We review strategies for case management, focusing on point-of-care tests that hold considerable potential for improving STI control. Lastly, STIs in men who have sex with men have increased since the late 1990s. We discuss the contribution of new biomedical HIV prevention strategies and risk compensation. Overall, this Commission aims to enhance the understanding of some of the key challenges facing the field of STIs, and outlines new approaches to improve the clinical management of STIs and public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magnus Unemo
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Catriona S Bradshaw
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jane S Hocking
- Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Henry J C de Vries
- STI Outpatient Clinic, Public Health Service of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Department of Dermatology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Suzanna C Francis
- MRC Tropical Epidemiology Group, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - David Mabey
- Clinical Research Unit, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Jeanne M Marrazzo
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Gerard J B Sonder
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Public Health Service of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jane R Schwebke
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Elske Hoornenborg
- STI Outpatient Clinic, Public Health Service of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Rosanna W Peeling
- Clinical Research Unit, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Susan S Philip
- Disease Prevention and Control Population Health Division, San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Nicola Low
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Christopher K Fairley
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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16
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Fingerhuth SM, Low N, Bonhoeffer S, Althaus CL. Detection of antibiotic resistance is essential for gonorrhoea point-of-care testing: a mathematical modelling study. BMC Med 2017; 15:142. [PMID: 28747205 PMCID: PMC5530576 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-017-0881-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2017] [Accepted: 05/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antibiotic resistance is threatening to make gonorrhoea untreatable. Point-of-care (POC) tests that detect resistance promise individually tailored treatment, but might lead to more treatment and higher levels of resistance. We investigate the impact of POC tests on antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea. METHODS We used data about the prevalence and incidence of gonorrhoea in men who have sex with men (MSM) and heterosexual men and women (HMW) to calibrate a mathematical gonorrhoea transmission model. With this model, we simulated four clinical pathways for the diagnosis and treatment of gonorrhoea: POC test with (POC+R) and without (POC-R) resistance detection, culture and nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs). We calculated the proportion of resistant infections and cases averted after 5 years, and compared how fast resistant infections spread in the populations. RESULTS The proportion of resistant infections after 30 years is lowest for POC+R (median MSM: 0.18%, HMW: 0.12%), and increases for culture (MSM: 1.19%, HMW: 0.13%), NAAT (MSM: 100%, HMW: 99.27%), and POC-R (MSM: 100%, HMW: 99.73%). Per 100 000 persons, NAAT leads to 36 366 (median MSM) and 1228 (median HMW) observed cases after 5 years. Compared with NAAT, POC+R averts more cases after 5 years (median MSM: 3353, HMW: 118). POC tests that detect resistance with intermediate sensitivity slow down resistance spread more than NAAT. POC tests with very high sensitivity for the detection of resistance are needed to slow down resistance spread more than by using culture. CONCLUSIONS POC with high sensitivity to detect antibiotic resistance can keep gonorrhoea treatable longer than culture or NAAT. POC tests without reliable resistance detection should not be introduced because they can accelerate the spread of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie M Fingerhuth
- Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8092, Switzerland. .,Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, 3012, Switzerland.
| | - Nicola Low
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, 3012, Switzerland
| | | | - Christian L Althaus
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, 3012, Switzerland
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A comprehensive overview of urogenital, anorectal and oropharyngeal Neisseria gonorrhoeae testing and diagnoses among different STI care providers: a cross-sectional study. BMC Infect Dis 2017; 17:290. [PMID: 28427377 PMCID: PMC5397759 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-017-2402-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2016] [Accepted: 04/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Gonorrhoea, caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), can cause reproductive morbidity, is increasingly becoming resistant to antibiotics and is frequently asymptomatic, which shows the essential role of NG test practice. In this study we wanted to compare NG diagnostic testing procedures between different STI care providers serving a defined geographic Dutch region (280,000 inhabitants). Methods Data on laboratory testing and diagnosis of urogenital and extragenital (i.e. anorectal and oropharyngeal) NG were retrieved from general practitioners (GPs), an STI clinic, and gynaecologists (2006–2010). Per provider, we assessed their contribution regarding the total number of tests performed and type of populations tested, the proportion of NG positives re-tested (3–12 months after treatment) and test-of-cure (TOC, within 3 months post treatment). Results Overall, 17,702 NG tests (48.7% STI clinic, 38.2% GPs, 13.1% gynaecologists) were performed during 15,458 patient visits. From this total number of tests, 2257 (12.7%) were extragenital, of which 99.4% were performed by the STI clinic. Men were mostly tested at the STI clinic (71%) and women by their GP (43%). NG positivity per visit was 1.6%; GP 1.9% (n = 111), STI clinic 1.7% (n = 131) and gynaecology 0.2% (n = 5). NG positivity was associated with Chlamydia trachomatis positivity (OR: 2.06, 95% confidence interval: 1.46–2.92). Per anatomical location, the proportion of NG positives re-tested were: urogenital 20.3% (n = 36), anorectal 43.6% (n = 17) and oropharyngeal 57.1% (n = 20). NG positivity among re-tests was 16.9%. Proportions of NG positives with TOC by anatomical location were: urogenital 10.2% (n = 18), anorectal 17.9% (n = 7) and oropharyngeal 17.1% (n = 6). Conclusions To achieve best practice in relation to NG testing, we recommend that: 1) GPs test at extragenital sites, especially men who have sex with men (MSM), 2) all care providers consider re-testing 3 to 12 months after NG diagnosis and 3) TOC is performed following oropharyngeal NG diagnosis in settings which provide services to higher-risk men and women (such as STI clinics).
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18
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Fingerhuth SM, Bonhoeffer S, Low N, Althaus CL. Antibiotic-Resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae Spread Faster with More Treatment, Not More Sexual Partners. PLoS Pathog 2016; 12:e1005611. [PMID: 27196299 PMCID: PMC4872991 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2015] [Accepted: 04/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The sexually transmitted bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae has developed resistance to all antibiotic classes that have been used for treatment and strains resistant to multiple antibiotic classes have evolved. In many countries, there is only one antibiotic remaining for empirical N. gonorrhoeae treatment, and antibiotic management to counteract resistance spread is urgently needed. Understanding dynamics and drivers of resistance spread can provide an improved rationale for antibiotic management. In our study, we first used antibiotic resistance surveillance data to estimate the rates at which antibiotic-resistant N. gonorrhoeae spread in two host populations, heterosexual men (HetM) and men who have sex with men (MSM). We found higher rates of spread for MSM (0.86 to 2.38 y−1, mean doubling time: 6 months) compared to HetM (0.24 to 0.86 y−1, mean doubling time: 16 months). We then developed a dynamic transmission model to reproduce the observed dynamics of N. gonorrhoeae transmission in populations of heterosexual men and women (HMW) and MSM. We parameterized the model using sexual behavior data and calibrated it to N. gonorrhoeae prevalence and incidence data. In the model, antibiotic-resistant N. gonorrhoeae spread with a median rate of 0.88 y−1 in HMW and 3.12 y−1 in MSM. These rates correspond to median doubling times of 9 (HMW) and 3 (MSM) months. Assuming no fitness costs, the model shows the difference in the host population’s treatment rate rather than the difference in the number of sexual partners explains the differential spread of resistance. As higher treatment rates result in faster spread of antibiotic resistance, treatment recommendations for N. gonorrhoeae should carefully balance prevention of infection and avoidance of resistance spread. More and more infectious disease treatments fail because the causative pathogens are resistant to the drugs used for treatment. For the treatment of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a sexually transmitted bacterium, drug resistance is a particularly big problem: there is only a single antibiotic left that is recommended for treatment. We aimed to understand how antibiotic-resistant N. gonorrhoeae spread in a sexually active host population and how the spread of resistance can be slowed. From antibiotic resistance surveillance data, we first estimated the rate at which antibiotic-resistant N. gonorrhoeae spread. Second, we reproduced the observed dynamics in a mathematical model describing the transmission between hosts. We found that antibiotic-resistant N. gonorrhoeae spread faster in host populations of men who have sex with men than in host populations of heterosexuals. We could attribute the faster spread of resistant pathogens to higher treatment rates. This finding implies that promoting screening to control antibiotic-resistant N. gonorrhoeae could in fact accelerate their spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie M. Fingerhuth
- Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Nicola Low
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Christian L. Althaus
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Dukers-Muijrers NHTM, Schachter J, van Liere GAFS, Wolffs PFG, Hoebe CJPA. What is needed to guide testing for anorectal and pharyngeal Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in women and men? Evidence and opinion. BMC Infect Dis 2015; 15:533. [PMID: 26576538 PMCID: PMC4650297 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-015-1280-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2015] [Accepted: 11/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Anorectal and pharyngeal infections with Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrheae (NG) are commonly observed in men who have sex with men (MSM). There is increasing evidence that such infections at extra-genital sites are also common in women. In both sexes, these infections are largely overlooked as they are not routinely tested for in regular care. Testing based on sexual behavior or symptoms would only detect half of these extra-genital infections. This paper elucidates the differences and similarities between women and MSM, regarding the epidemiology of extra-genital CT and NG. It discusses the clinical and public health impact of untested extra-genital infections, how this may impact management strategies, and thereby identifies key research areas. Discussion Extra-genital CT is as common in women as it is in MSM; NG in women is as common at their extra-genital sites as it is at their genital sites. The substantial numbers of extra-genital CT and NG being missed in women and MSM indicate a need to test and treat more patients and perhaps different choices in treatment and partner management strategies. Doing so will likely contribute to reduced morbidity and transmission in both sexes. However, in our opinion, it is clear that there are several knowledge gaps in understanding the clinical and public health impact of extra-genital CT and NG. Key research areas that need to be addressed concern associated morbidity (anorectal and reproductive morbidity due to extra-genital infections), ‘the best’ management strategies, including testing and treatment for extra-genital CT, extra-genital treatment resistance, transmission probabilities between partners and between anatomic sites in a woman, and impact on transmission of other infections. Data are also lacking on cost-effectiveness of pharyngeal testing, and of NG testing and anorectal CT testing in women. Gaps in the management of extra-genital CT and NG may also apply for other STIs, such Mycoplasma genitalium. Summary Current management strategies, including testing, to address extra-genital CT and NG in both sexes are suboptimal. Comparative data on several identified key themes in women and MSM are lacking and urgently needed to guide better management of extra-genital infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole H T M Dukers-Muijrers
- Department of Sexual Health, Infectious Diseases and Environmental Health, South Limburg Public Health Service, Geleenbeeklaan 2, 6166, GR Sittard-Geleen, The Netherlands. .,Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+), Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - Julius Schachter
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Genevieve A F S van Liere
- Department of Sexual Health, Infectious Diseases and Environmental Health, South Limburg Public Health Service, Geleenbeeklaan 2, 6166, GR Sittard-Geleen, The Netherlands.,Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+), Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Petra F G Wolffs
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+), Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Christian J P A Hoebe
- Department of Sexual Health, Infectious Diseases and Environmental Health, South Limburg Public Health Service, Geleenbeeklaan 2, 6166, GR Sittard-Geleen, The Netherlands.,Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+), Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Grad YH, Goldstein E, Lipsitch M, White PJ. Improving Control of Antibiotic-Resistant Gonorrhea by Integrating Research Agendas Across Disciplines: Key Questions Arising From Mathematical Modeling. J Infect Dis 2015; 213:883-90. [PMID: 26518045 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiv517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2015] [Accepted: 10/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The rise in gonococcal antibiotic resistance and the threat of untreatable infection are focusing attention on strategies to limit the spread of drug-resistant gonorrhea. Mathematical models provide a framework to link the natural history of infection and patient behavior to epidemiological outcomes and can be used to guide research and enhance the public health impact of interventions. While limited knowledge of key disease parameters and networks of spread has impeded development of operational models of gonococcal transmission, new tools in gonococcal surveillance may provide useful data to aid tracking and modeling. Here, we highlight critical questions in the management of gonorrhea that can be addressed by mathematical models and identify key data needs. Our overarching aim is to articulate a shared agenda across gonococcus-related fields from microbiology to epidemiology that will catalyze a comprehensive evidence-based clinical and public health strategy for management of gonococcal infections and antimicrobial resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonatan H Grad
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases Department of Epidemiology, Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, and Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Edward Goldstein
- Department of Epidemiology, Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, and
| | - Marc Lipsitch
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases Department of Epidemiology, Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, and
| | - Peter J White
- Modelling and Economics Unit, Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control, Public Health England MRC Centre for Outbreak Analysis and Modelling NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Modelling Methodology, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
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