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Unemo M, Sánchez-Busó L, Golparian D, Jacobsson S, Shimuta K, Lan PT, Eyre DW, Cole M, Maatouk I, Wi T, Lahra MM. The novel 2024 WHO Neisseria gonorrhoeae reference strains for global quality assurance of laboratory investigations and superseded WHO N. gonorrhoeae reference strains-phenotypic, genetic and reference genome characterization. J Antimicrob Chemother 2024:dkae176. [PMID: 38889110 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkae176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES MDR and XDR Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains remain major public health concerns internationally, and quality-assured global gonococcal antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance is imperative. The WHO global Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme (GASP) and WHO Enhanced GASP (EGASP), including metadata and WGS, are expanding internationally. We present the phenotypic, genetic and reference genome characteristics of the 2024 WHO gonococcal reference strains (n = 15) for quality assurance worldwide. All superseded WHO gonococcal reference strains (n = 14) were identically characterized. MATERIAL AND METHODS The 2024 WHO reference strains include 11 of the 2016 WHO reference strains, which were further characterized, and four novel strains. The superseded WHO reference strains include 11 WHO reference strains previously unpublished. All strains were characterized phenotypically and genomically (single-molecule PacBio or Oxford Nanopore and Illumina sequencing). RESULTS The 2024 WHO reference strains represent all available susceptible and resistant phenotypes and genotypes for antimicrobials currently and previously used (n = 22), or considered for future use (n = 3) in gonorrhoea treatment. The novel WHO strains include internationally spreading ceftriaxone resistance, ceftriaxone resistance due to new penA mutations, ceftriaxone plus high-level azithromycin resistance and azithromycin resistance due to mosaic MtrRCDE efflux pump. AMR, serogroup, prolyliminopeptidase, genetic AMR determinants, plasmid types, molecular epidemiological types and reference genome characteristics are presented for all strains. CONCLUSIONS The 2024 WHO gonococcal reference strains are recommended for internal and external quality assurance in laboratory examinations, especially in the WHO GASP, EGASP and other GASPs, but also in phenotypic and molecular diagnostics, AMR prediction, pharmacodynamics, epidemiology, research and as complete reference genomes in WGS analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magnus Unemo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, WHO Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and Other STIs, National Reference Laboratory for STIs, Microbiology, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
- Institute for Global Health, University College London (UCL), London, UK
| | - Leonor Sánchez-Busó
- Joint Research Unit 'Infection and Public Health', FISABIO-University of Valencia, Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), Valencia, Spain
- CIBERESP, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel Golparian
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, WHO Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and Other STIs, National Reference Laboratory for STIs, Microbiology, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Susanne Jacobsson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, WHO Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and Other STIs, National Reference Laboratory for STIs, Microbiology, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Ken Shimuta
- Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Pham Thi Lan
- Hanoi Medical University, National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - David W Eyre
- Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Ismael Maatouk
- Department of the Global HIV, Hepatitis and STI Programmes, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Teodora Wi
- Department of the Global HIV, Hepatitis and STI Programmes, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Monica M Lahra
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Sexually Transmitted Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance, New South Wales Health Pathology, Microbiology, Randwick, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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Jünger C, Imkamp F, Balakrishna S, Gysin M, Haldimann K, Brugger SD, Scheier TC, Hampel B, Hobbie SN, Günthard HF, Braun DL. Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates among individuals at high risk for sexually transmitted diseases in Zurich, Switzerland. Int J STD AIDS 2024:9564624241230266. [PMID: 38297880 DOI: 10.1177/09564624241230266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While ceftriaxone resistance remains scarce in Switzerland, global Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) antimicrobial resistance poses an urgent threat. This study describes clinical characteristics in MSM (men who have sex with men) diagnosed with NG infection and analyses NG resistance by phenotypic and genotypic means. METHODS Data of MSM enrolled in three clinical cohorts with a positive polymerase chain reaction test (PCR) for NG were analysed between January 2019 and December 2021 and linked with antibiotic susceptibility testing. Bacterial isolates were subjected to whole genome sequencing (WGS). RESULTS Of 142 participants, 141 (99%) were MSM and 118 (84%) living with HIV. Participants were treated with ceftriaxone (N = 79), azithromycin (N = 2), or a combination of both (N = 61). No clinical or microbiological failures were observed. From 182 positive PCR samples taken, 23 were available for detailed analysis. Based on minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs), all isolates were susceptible to ceftriaxone, gentamicin, cefixime, cefpodoxime, ertapenem, zoliflodacin, and spectinomycin. Resistance to azithromycin, tetracyclines and ciprofloxacin was observed in 10 (43%), 23 (100%) and 11 (48%) of the cases, respectively. Analysis of WGS data revealed combinations of resistance determinants that matched with the corresponding phenotypic resistance pattern of each isolate. CONCLUSION Among the MSM diagnosed with NG mainly acquired in Switzerland, ceftriaxone MICs were low for a subset of bacterial isolates studied and no treatment failures were observed. For azithromycin, high occurrences of in vitro resistance were found. Gentamicin, cefixime, cefpodoxime, ertapenem, spectinomycin, and zoliflodacin displayed excellent in vitro activity against the 23 isolates underscoring their potential as alternative agents to ceftriaxone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Jünger
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Frank Imkamp
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Suraj Balakrishna
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marina Gysin
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Klara Haldimann
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Silvio D Brugger
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Thomas C Scheier
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Sven N Hobbie
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Huldrych F Günthard
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Dominique L Braun
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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3
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Raccagni AR, Ranzenigo M, Bruzzesi E, Maci C, Castagna A, Nozza S. Neisseria gonorrhoeae Antimicrobial Resistance: The Future of Antibiotic Therapy. J Clin Med 2023; 12:7767. [PMID: 38137836 PMCID: PMC10744250 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12247767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The growing threat of antibiotic-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which causes gonorrhea, presents a current public health challenge. Over the years, the pathogen has developed resistance to different antibiotics, leaving few effective treatment options. High-level resistance to key drugs, including ceftriaxone, has become a concerning reality. This article primarily focuses on the treatment of gonorrhea and the current clinical trials aimed at providing new antibiotic treatment options. We explore ongoing efforts to assess new antibiotics, including zoliflodacin, and gepotidacin. These drugs offer new effective treatment options, but their rapid availability remains uncertain. We delve into two ongoing clinical trials: one evaluating the efficacy and safety of gepotidacin compared to the standard ceftriaxone-azithromycin combination and the other assessing the non-inferiority of zoliflodacin versus the combination therapy of ceftriaxone-azithromycin. These trials represent crucial steps in the search for alternative treatments for uncomplicated gonorrhea. Notably, gonorrhea has been included in the "WHO Priority Pathogens List for Research and Development of New Antibiotics". In conclusion, the urgent need for innovative treatment strategies is underscored by the rising threat of antibiotic resistance in N. gonorrhoeae; collaboration among researchers, industries, and healthcare authorities is therefore essential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Roberto Raccagni
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy; (M.R.); (E.B.); (C.M.); (A.C.); (S.N.)
| | - Martina Ranzenigo
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy; (M.R.); (E.B.); (C.M.); (A.C.); (S.N.)
| | - Elena Bruzzesi
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy; (M.R.); (E.B.); (C.M.); (A.C.); (S.N.)
| | - Chiara Maci
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy; (M.R.); (E.B.); (C.M.); (A.C.); (S.N.)
| | - Antonella Castagna
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy; (M.R.); (E.B.); (C.M.); (A.C.); (S.N.)
- Infectious Diseases Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Nozza
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy; (M.R.); (E.B.); (C.M.); (A.C.); (S.N.)
- Infectious Diseases Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
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4
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Ma A, Ferrato C, Martin I, Smyczek P, Gratrix J, Dingle TC. Use of genome sequencing to resolve differences in gradient diffusion and agar dilution antimicrobial susceptibility testing performance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates in Alberta, Canada. J Clin Microbiol 2023; 61:e0060623. [PMID: 37882549 PMCID: PMC10662343 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00606-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Agar dilution is the gold standard method for phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) for Neisseria gonorrhoeae. However, this method is laborious and requires expertise, so laboratories that perform N. gonorrhoeae AST may choose alternative methods such as disk diffusion and gradient diffusion. In this study, we retrospectively compare the performance of gradient diffusion to agar dilution for 2,394 unique N. gonorrhoeae isolates identified in Alberta from 2017 to 2020 against azithromycin, cefixime, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, penicillin, and tetracycline. Genome sequencing was utilized to resolve discrepancies between AST methods, detect antimicrobial resistance markers, and identify trends between error rates and sequence types (STs) of isolates. Over 90% of N. gonorrhoeae isolates were susceptible to azithromycin, cefixime, and ceftriaxone, whereas decreased susceptibility was observed for ciprofloxacin, penicillin, and tetracycline. Categorical (CA) and essential agreement (EA) was poorest between the two methods for penicillin (CA: 86.02%; EA: 77.69%) and tetracycline (CA: 47.22%; EA: 55.96%); however, the low CA was primarily attributed to minor errors. Antimicrobial agents with errors outside of acceptable limits included azithromycin (very major error: 18.42%; major error: 7.73%) and tetracycline (very major error: 6.17%). Genome sequencing on a subset of isolates resolved 30.3% of the azithromycin major errors and confirmed the azithromycin or tetracycline very major errors. Significant associations between certain STs and error types for azithromycin and tetracycline were also identified. Overall, gradient diffusion compared well to agar dilution for cefixime, ceftriaxone, and ciprofloxacin, and genome sequencing was identified as a useful tool to arbitrate discrepant susceptibility testing results between gradient diffusion and agar dilution for N. gonorrhoeae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Ma
- Division of Diagnostic and Applied Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Christina Ferrato
- Alberta Precision Laboratories—Provincial Laboratory for Public Health, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Irene Martin
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Petra Smyczek
- Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
- Alberta Health Services, STI Services, Edmonton, Canada
| | | | - Tanis C. Dingle
- Alberta Precision Laboratories—Provincial Laboratory for Public Health, Edmonton, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
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5
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Phillips LT, Witney AA, Furegato M, Laing KG, Zhou L, Sadiq ST. Time Required for Nanopore Whole-Genome Sequencing of Neisseria gonorrhoeae for Identification of Phylogenetic Relationships. J Infect Dis 2023; 228:1179-1188. [PMID: 37216766 PMCID: PMC10629711 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiad170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a global health challenge. Limitations to AMR surveillance reporting, alongside reduction in culture-based susceptibility testing, has resulted in a need for rapid diagnostics and strain detection. We investigated Nanopore sequencing time, and depth, to accurately identify closely related N. gonorrhoeae isolates, compared to Illumina sequencing. METHODS N. gonorrhoeae strains collected from a London sexual health clinic were cultured and sequenced with MiSeq and MinION sequencing platforms. Accuracy was determined by comparing variant calls at 68 nucleotide positions (37 resistance-associated markers). Accuracy at varying MinION sequencing depths was determined through retrospective time-stamped read analysis. RESULTS Of 22 MinION-MiSeq pairs reaching sufficient sequencing depth, agreement of variant call positions passing quality control criteria was 185/185 (100%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 98.0%-100.0%), 502/503 (99.8%; 95% CI, 98.9%-99.9%), and 564/565 (99.8%; 95% CI, 99.0%-100.0%) at 10x, 30x, and 40x MinION depth, respectively. Isolates identified as closely related by MiSeq, within one yearly evolutionary distance of ≤5 single nucleotide polymorphisms, were accurately identified via MinION. CONCLUSIONS Nanopore sequencing shows utility as a rapid surveillance tool, identifying closely related N. gonorrhoeae strains, with just 10x sequencing depth, taking a median time of 29 minutes. This highlights its potential for tracking local transmission and AMR markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura T Phillips
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George’s University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Adam A Witney
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George’s University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Martina Furegato
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George’s University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ken G Laing
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George’s University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Liqing Zhou
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George’s University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - S Tariq Sadiq
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George’s University of London, London, United Kingdom
- Infection Clinical Academic Group, St George's University Hospitals NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
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6
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Rodrigues R, Vieira-Baptista P, Catalão C, Borrego MJ, Sousa C, Vale N. Chlamydial and Gonococcal Genital Infections: A Narrative Review. J Pers Med 2023; 13:1170. [PMID: 37511783 PMCID: PMC10381338 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13071170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) constitute one of the leading causes of disease burden worldwide, leading to considerable morbidity, mortality, health expenditures, and stigma. Of note are the most common bacterial STIs, chlamydial and gonococcal infections, whose etiological agents are Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), respectively. Despite being usually asymptomatic, in some cases these infections can be associated with long-term severe complications, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, chronic pelvic pain, infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and increased risk of other STIs acquisition. As the symptoms, when present, are usually similar in both infections, and in most of the cases these infections co-occur, the dual-test strategy, searching for both pathogens, should be preferred. In line with this, herein we focus on the main aspects of CT and NG infections, the clinical symptoms as well as the appropriate state-of-the-art diagnostic tests and treatment. Cost-effective strategies for controlling CT and NG infections worldwide are addressed. The treatment for both infections is based on antibiotics. However, the continuing global rise in the incidence of these infections, concomitantly with the increased risk of antibiotics resistance, leads to difficulties in their control, particularly in the case of NG infections. We also discuss the potential mechanism of tumorigenesis related to CT infections. The molecular bases of CT and NG infections are addressed, as they should provide clues for control or eradication, through the development of new drugs and/or effective vaccines against these pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafaela Rodrigues
- OncoPharma Research Group, Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
- CINTESIS@RISE, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, Unilabs Portugal, Centro Empresarial Lionesa Porto, Rua Lionesa, 4465-671 Leça do Balio, Portugal
| | - Pedro Vieira-Baptista
- Department of Gynecology-Obstetrics and Pediatrics, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- Lower Genital Tract Unit, Centro Hospitalar de São João, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Carlos Catalão
- Roche Sistemas de Diagnósticos, Estrada Nacional, 2720-413 Amadora, Portugal
| | - Maria José Borrego
- Laboratório Nacional de Referência das Infeções Sexualmente Transmissíveis, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Avenida Padre Cruz, 1649-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Carlos Sousa
- Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, Unilabs Portugal, Centro Empresarial Lionesa Porto, Rua Lionesa, 4465-671 Leça do Balio, Portugal
| | - Nuno Vale
- OncoPharma Research Group, Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
- CINTESIS@RISE, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Community Medicine, Health Information and Decision (MEDCIDS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
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7
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Ewers EC, Curtin JM, Ganesan A. Challenges in Managing Gonorrhea and New Advances in Prevention. Infect Dis Clin North Am 2023; 37:223-243. [PMID: 37105643 DOI: 10.1016/j.idc.2023.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Gonorrhea is the second most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the United States. Rates are increasing, and multiple challenges compound management, including worsening antimicrobial resistance. New therapeutics, enhanced screening and partner notification, and treatment through point-of-care testing and expedited partner therapy, as well as primary prevention efforts provide opportunities for success in combating these trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan C Ewers
- Infectious Disease Service, Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, 9300 DeWitt Loop, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060, USA; Department of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - John M Curtin
- Department of Medicine, Infectious Disease Service, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Building 7, 1st Floor (Liberty Zone), 8960 Brown Drive, Bethesda, MD 20889, USA
| | - Anuradha Ganesan
- Department of Medicine, Infectious Disease Service, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Building 7, 1st Floor (Liberty Zone), 8960 Brown Drive, Bethesda, MD 20889, USA; Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Infectious Disease Clinical Research Program (IDCRP), Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA; Henry M Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA.
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8
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Martin SL, Mortimer TD, Grad YH. Machine learning models for Neisseria gonorrhoeae antimicrobial susceptibility tests. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2023; 1520:74-88. [PMID: 36573759 PMCID: PMC9974846 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Neisseria gonorrhoeae is an urgent public health threat due to the emergence of antibiotic resistance. As most isolates in the United States are susceptible to at least one antibiotic, rapid molecular antimicrobial susceptibility tests (ASTs) would offer the opportunity to tailor antibiotic therapy, thereby expanding treatment options. With genome sequence and antibiotic resistance phenotype data for nearly 20,000 clinical N. gonorrhoeae isolates now available, there is an opportunity to use statistical methods to develop sequence-based diagnostics that predict antibiotic susceptibility from genotype. N. gonorrhoeae, therefore, provides a useful example illustrating how to apply machine learning models to aid in the design of sequence-based ASTs. We present an overview of this framework, which begins with establishing the assay technology, the performance criteria, the population in which the diagnostic will be used, and the clinical goals, and extends to the choices that must be made to arrive at a set of features with the desired properties for predicting susceptibility phenotype from genotype. While we focus on the example of N. gonorrhoeae, the framework generalizes to other organisms for which large-scale genotype and antibiotic resistance data can be combined to aid in diagnostics development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Skylar L. Martin
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Tatum D. Mortimer
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Yonatan H. Grad
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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9
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Kakooza F, Kiggundu R, Mboowa G, Kateete PD, Nsangi OT, Kabahita JM, Ssentalo Bagaya B, Golparian D, Unemo M. Antimicrobial susceptibility surveillance and antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Africa from 2001 to 2020: A mini-review. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1148817. [PMID: 37089569 PMCID: PMC10117771 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1148817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), compromising gonorrhea treatment, is a global public health concern. Improved, quality-assured NG AMR monitoring at the global level is essential. This mini-review examined NG AMR susceptibility surveillance and AMR data from the African continent from 2001 to 2020. Eligible peer-reviewed publications (n = 30) containing NG AMR data for antimicrobials currently recommended for gonorrhea treatment were included. Overall, very limited NG surveillance and AMR data was available. Furthermore, the NG AMR surveillance studies varied greatly regarding surveillance protocols (e.g., populations and samples tested, sample size, antimicrobials examined), methodologies (e.g., antimicrobial susceptibility testing method [agar dilution, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) gradient strip test, disc diffusion test] and interpretative criteria), and quality assurance (internal quality controls, external quality assessments [EQA], and verification of AMR detected). Moreover, most studies examined a suboptimal number of NG isolates, i.e., less than the WHO Global Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Program (GASP) and WHO Enhanced GASP (EGASP) recommendations of ≥100 isolates per setting and year. The notable inter-study variability and frequently small sample sizes make appropriate inter-study and inter-country comparisons of AMR data difficult. In conclusion, it is imperative to establish an enhanced, standardized and quality-assured NG AMR surveillance, ideally including patient metadata and genome sequencing as in WHO EGASP, in Africa, the region with the highest gonorrhea incidence globally. This will enable the monitoring of AMR trends, detection of emerging AMR, and timely refinements of national and international gonorrhea treatment guidelines. To achieve this aim, national and international leadership, political and financial commitments are imperative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis Kakooza
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Reuben Kiggundu
- USAID Medicines, Technologies, and Pharmaceutical Services (MTaPS) Program, Management Sciences for Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Gerald Mboowa
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Patrick David Kateete
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Olga Tendo Nsangi
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Jupiter Marina Kabahita
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Bernard Ssentalo Bagaya
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Daniel Golparian
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and Other STIs, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Microbiology, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Magnus Unemo
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and Other STIs, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Microbiology, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
- Institute for Global Health, University College London (UCL), London, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Magnus Unemo,
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10
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Philipova I, Levterova V, Simeonovski I, Kantardjiev T. High rate of fluoroquinolone resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae detected by molecular surveillance of antimicrobial resistance determinants in Bulgaria. BIOTECHNOL BIOTEC EQ 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/13102818.2022.2146532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ivva Philipova
- Department of Microbiology, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases (NCIPD), Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Victoriya Levterova
- Department of Microbiology, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases (NCIPD), Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Ivan Simeonovski
- Department of Microbiology, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases (NCIPD), Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Todor Kantardjiev
- Department of Microbiology, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases (NCIPD), Sofia, Bulgaria
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11
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Assessment of Antibiotic Resistance and Efflux Pump Gene Expression in Neisseria Gonorrhoeae Isolates from South Africa by Quantitative Real-Time PCR and Regression Analysis. Int J Microbiol 2022; 2022:7318325. [PMID: 36312786 PMCID: PMC9616671 DOI: 10.1155/2022/7318325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Treatment of gonorrhoea infection is limited by the increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant strains. Cost-effective molecular diagnostic tests can guide effective antimicrobial stewardship. The aim of this study was to correlate mRNA expression levels in Neisseria gonorrhoeae antibiotic target genes and efflux pump genes to antibiotic resistance in our population. Methods This study investigated the expression profile of antibiotic resistance-associated genes (penA, ponA, pilQ, mtrR, mtrA, mtrF, gyrA, parC, parE, rpsJ, 16S rRNA, and 23S rRNA) and efflux pump genes (macAB, norM, and mtrCDE), by quantitative real-time PCR, in clinical isolates from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Whole-genome sequencing was used to determine the presence or absence of mutations. Results N. gonorrhoeae isolates, from female and male patients presenting for care at clinics in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, were analysed. As determined by binomial regression and ROC analysis, the most significant (p ≤ 0.05) markers for resistance prediction in this population, and their cutoff values, were determined to be mtrC (p = 0.024; cutoff <0.089), gyrA (p = 0.027; cutoff <0.0518), parE (p = 0.036; cutoff <0.0033), rpsJ (p = 0.047; cutoff <0.0012), and 23S rRNA (p = 0.042; cutoff >7.754). Conclusion Antimicrobial stewardship includes exploring options to conserve currently available drugs for gonorrhoea treatment. There is the potential to predict an isolate as either susceptible or nonsusceptible based on the mRNA expression level of specific candidate markers, to inform patient management. This real-time qPCR approach, with few targets, can be further investigated for use as a potentially cost-effective diagnostic tool to detect resistance.
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12
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Van Gerwen O, Griner S, Davis A, Footman A, Pinto CN, Melendez JH, Tuddenham S, Exten C, Soge OO, Chakraborty P, Nenninger A, Marlowe EM, Joseph AM, McGowin CL, Seña AC, Fortenberry JD, Ghanem KG, Van Der Pol B. Summary of the Fourth Annual American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association Workshop on Improving Sexually Transmitted Infection Control Efforts Through Cross-Sector Collaboration. Sex Transm Dis 2022; 49:588-593. [PMID: 35608091 DOI: 10.1097/olq.0000000000001651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT The American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association has, for several years, been conducting a cross-sector workshop to bring together a variety of stakeholders to develop ideas for collaboratively improving the sexually transmitted infection control efforts in the United States. In this summary, we share the content of discussions and ideas of the fourth annual workshop for future research and potential changes to practice with a focus on diagnostic capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Van Gerwen
- From the University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL
| | - Stacey Griner
- University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX
| | - Alissa Davis
- Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, NY
| | - Alison Footman
- University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health, Birmingham, AL
| | - Casey N Pinto
- Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA
| | | | | | - Cara Exten
- Pennsylvania State University College of Nursing, University Park, PA
| | - Olusegun O Soge
- Departments of Global Health and Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | | | | | - Elizabeth M Marlowe
- Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute, Infectious Diseases, San Juan Capistrano, CA
| | | | - Chris L McGowin
- Medical and Scientific Affairs, Roche Diagnostic Corporation, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Arlene C Seña
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - J Dennis Fortenberry
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
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13
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Hsieh K, Melendez JH, Gaydos CA, Wang TH. Bridging the gap between development of point-of-care nucleic acid testing and patient care for sexually transmitted infections. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:476-511. [PMID: 35048928 PMCID: PMC9035340 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00665g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
The incidence rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including the four major curable STIs - chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis and, syphilis - continue to increase globally, causing medical cost burden and morbidity especially in low and middle-income countries (LMIC). There have seen significant advances in diagnostic testing, but commercial antigen-based point-of-care tests (POCTs) are often insufficiently sensitive and specific, while near-point-of-care (POC) instruments that can perform sensitive and specific nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) are technically complex and expensive, especially for LMIC. Thus, there remains a critical need for NAAT-based STI POCTs that can improve diagnosis and curb the ongoing epidemic. Unfortunately, the development of such POCTs has been challenging due to the gap between researchers developing new technologies and healthcare providers using these technologies. This review aims to bridge this gap. We first present a short introduction of the four major STIs, followed by a discussion on the current landscape of commercial near-POC instruments for the detection of these STIs. We present relevant research toward addressing the gaps in developing NAAT-based STI POCT technologies and supplement this discussion with technologies for HIV and other infectious diseases, which may be adapted for STIs. Additionally, as case studies, we highlight the developmental trajectory of two different POCT technologies, including one approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Finally, we offer our perspectives on future development of NAAT-based STI POCT technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuangwen Hsieh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
| | - Johan H Melendez
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Charlotte A Gaydos
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Tza-Huei Wang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
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14
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Melendez JH, Chen FE, Wang TH. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Neisseria gonorrhoeae using a phenotypic-molecular assay and lyophilized antimicrobials. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2022; 102:115590. [PMID: 34871932 PMCID: PMC9241851 DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2021.115590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Gonorrhea is an urgent global public health threat as Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng) has progressively developed resistance to all antibiotics commonly used for treatment. Surveillance of antimicrobial susceptibility trends is critical to monitor the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance. The gold standard methods for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) of Ng are laborious and time-consuming. We evaluated a phenotypic molecular approach, involving a short cultivation step and quantitative PCR, with lyophilized antimicrobials to characterize antimicrobial susceptibility in Ng. There was excellent concordance between AST performed with liquid and lyophilized ciprofloxacin, penicillin, and tetracycline using the pheno-molecular assay, following a 4-hour incubation step. The categorical agreement between the pheno-molecular assay and the gold standard AST results was 92.4% for characterization of antimicrobial susceptibility. Essential agreement between the 2 methods was 91.9%. Characterization of ceftriaxone susceptibility in Ng using the pheno-molecular assay required a 6-hour incubation step.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan H. Melendez
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205
| | - Fan-En Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218
| | - Tza-Huei Wang
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218,Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218
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15
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Zhou L, Lopez Rodas A, Llangarí LM, Romero Sandoval N, Cooper P, Sadiq ST. Single gene targeted nanopore sequencing enables simultaneous identification and antimicrobial resistance detection of sexually transmitted infections. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0262242. [PMID: 35061780 PMCID: PMC8782522 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To develop a simple DNA sequencing test for simultaneous identification and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) detection of multiple sexually transmitted infections (STIs). METHODS Real-time PCR (qPCR) was initially performed to identify Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) infections among a total of 200 vulvo-vaginal swab samples from female sex workers in Ecuador. qPCR positive samples plus qPCR negative controls for these STIs were subjected to single gene targeted PCR MinION-nanopore sequencing using the smartphone operated MinIT. RESULTS Among 200 vulvo-vaginal swab samples 43 were qPCR positive for at least one of the STIs. Single gene targeted nanopore sequencing generally yielded higher pathogen specific read counts in qPCR positive samples than qPCR negative controls. Of the 26 CT, NG or MG infections identified by qPCR, 25 were clearly distinguishable from qPCR negative controls by read count. Discrimination of TV qPCR positives from qPCR negative controls was poorer as many had low pathogen loads (qPCR cycle threshold >35) which produced few specific reads. Real-time AMR profiling revealed that 3/3 NG samples identified had gyrA mutations associated with fluoroquinolone resistance, 2/10 of TV had mutations related to metronidazole resistance, while none of the MG samples possessed 23S rRNA gene mutations contributing to macrolide resistance. CONCLUSIONS Single gene targeted nanopore sequencing for diagnosing and simultaneously identifying key antimicrobial resistance markers for four common genital STIs shows promise. Further work to optimise accuracy, reduce costs and improve speed may allow sustainable approaches for managing STIs and emerging AMR in resource poor and laboratory limited settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqing Zhou
- Applied Diagnostic Research and Evaluation Unit, Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George’s, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea Lopez Rodas
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Universidad Internacional del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Luz Marina Llangarí
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Universidad Internacional del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Natalia Romero Sandoval
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Universidad Internacional del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
- Grups de Recerca d’Amèrica i Àfrica Llatines, GRAAL, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Philip Cooper
- Applied Diagnostic Research and Evaluation Unit, Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George’s, University of London, London, United Kingdom
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Universidad Internacional del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Syed Tariq Sadiq
- Applied Diagnostic Research and Evaluation Unit, Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George’s, University of London, London, United Kingdom
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16
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High-Resolution Melting Analysis to Detect Antimicrobial Resistance Determinants in South African Neisseria gonorrhoeae Clinical Isolates and Specimens. Int J Microbiol 2022; 2022:9094328. [PMID: 35087590 PMCID: PMC8789472 DOI: 10.1155/2022/9094328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Antimicrobial resistance is limiting treatment options for Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections. To aid or replace culture and the syndromic management approach, molecular assays are required for antimicrobial susceptibility testing to guide appropriate and rapid treatment. Objective We aimed to detect single-nucleotide polymorphisms and plasmids associated with antimicrobial resistance from N. gonorrhoeae isolates from a clinic population in South Africa, using real-time PCR as a rapid test for AMR detection. Methods N. gonorrhoeae isolates, from female and male patients presenting for care at a sexually transmitted infections clinic in Durban, South Africa, were analysed using phenotypic and genotypic methods for identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST). Real-time PCR and high-resolution melting analysis were used to detect porA pseudogene (species-specific marker) and resistance-associated targets. Whole-genome sequencing was used as the gold standard for the presence of point mutations. Results The real-time porA pseudogene assay identified all N. gonorrhoeae-positive isolates and specimens. Concordance between molecular detection (real-time PCR and HRM) and resistance phenotype was ≥92% for blaTEM (HLR penicillin), rpsJ_V57M (tetracycline), tetM (tetracycline), and gyrA_S91F (ciprofloxacin). Resistance determinants 16SrRNA_C1192U (spectinomycin), mtrR_G45D (azithromycin), and penA_D545S, penA_mosaic (cefixime/ceftriaxone) correlated with the WHO control isolates. Conclusions Eight resistance-associated targets correlated with phenotypic culture results. The porA pseudogene reliably detected N. gonorrhoeae. Larger cohorts are required to validate the utility of these targets as a convenient culture-free diagnostic tool, to guide STI management in a South African population.
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17
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Hadad R, Golparian D, Velicko I, Ohlsson AK, Lindroth Y, Ericson EL, Fredlund H, Engstrand L, Unemo M. First National Genomic Epidemiological Study of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Strains Spreading Across Sweden in 2016. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:820998. [PMID: 35095823 PMCID: PMC8794790 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.820998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The increasing transmission and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a global health concern with worrying trends of decreasing susceptibility to also the last-line extended-spectrum cephalosporin (ESC) ceftriaxone. A dramatic increase of reported gonorrhea cases has been observed in Sweden from 2016 and onward. The aim of the present study was to comprehensively investigate the genomic epidemiology of all cultured N. gonorrhoeae isolates in Sweden during 2016, in conjunction with phenotypic AMR and clinical and epidemiological data of patients. In total, 1279 isolates were examined. Etest and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) were performed, and epidemiological data obtained from the Public Health Agency of Sweden. Overall, 51.1%, 1.7%, and 1.3% resistance to ciprofloxacin, cefixime, and azithromycin, respectively, was found. No isolates were resistant to ceftriaxone, however, 9.3% of isolates showed a decreased susceptibility to ceftriaxone and 10.5% to cefixime. In total, 44 penA alleles were found of which six were mosaic (n = 92). Using the typing schemes of MLST, NG-MAST, and NG-STAR; 133, 422, and 280 sequence types, respectively, and 93 NG-STAR clonal complexes were found. The phylogenomic analysis revealed two main lineages (A and B) with lineage A divided into two main sublineages (A1 and A2). Resistance and decreased susceptibility to ESCs and azithromycin and associated AMR determinants, such as mosaic penA and mosaic mtrD, were predominantly found in sublineage A2. Resistance to cefixime and azithromycin was more prevalent among heterosexuals and MSM, respectively, and both were predominantly spread through domestic transmission. Continuous surveillance of the spread and evolution of N. gonorrhoeae, including phenotypic AMR testing and WGS, is essential for enhanced knowledge regarding the dynamic evolution of N. gonorrhoeae and gonorrhea epidemiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronza Hadad
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections, National Reference Laboratory for Sexually Transmitted Infections, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Daniel Golparian
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections, National Reference Laboratory for Sexually Transmitted Infections, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | | | - Anna-Karin Ohlsson
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Ylva Lindroth
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical Microbiology, Lund University, Skåne Laboratory Medicine, Lund, Sweden
| | - Eva-Lena Ericson
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Hans Fredlund
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections, National Reference Laboratory for Sexually Transmitted Infections, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Lars Engstrand
- Center for Translational Microbiome Research, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Science for Life Laboratory, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Magnus Unemo
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections, National Reference Laboratory for Sexually Transmitted Infections, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
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18
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A multiplex molecular assay for detection of six penA codons to predict decreased susceptibility to cephalosporins in
Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2022; 66:e0170921. [DOI: 10.1128/aac.01709-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The emerging cephalosporin-resistant
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
poses an urgent threat to the continued efficacy of the last-line monotherapy for gonorrhea. Consequently, high-throughput, accurate, and reasonable molecular assays are urgently needed for strengthening antimicrobial-resistance surveillance in
N. gonorrhoeae
. In this study, we designed a high-throughput multiplex method that incorporates high-resolution melting technology and is based on a 6-codon assay (among the most parsimonious assays) developed following comprehensive and systematic reviews. The results showed that our method can precisely distinguish specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms in resistance-associated genes with a specificity and sensitivity of 100% and a detection limit as low as 10 copies per reaction. This method can be directly applied to clinical samples without cumbersome culture and successfully predicted all cephalosporin-resistant isolates (sensitivity: 100%). The method presented here represents a technique for rapid testing of antimicrobial resistance and will serve as a valuable tool for tailor-made antimicrobial therapy and for monitoring the transmission of cephalosporin-resistant strains.
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19
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Luo H, Chen W, Mai Z, Yang J, Lin X, Zeng L, Pan Y, Xie Q, Xu Q, Li X, Liao Y, Feng Z, Ou J, Qin X, Zheng H. Development and application of Cas13a-based diagnostic assay for Neisseria gonorrhoeae detection and azithromycin resistance identification. J Antimicrob Chemother 2021; 77:656-664. [PMID: 34894246 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkab447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gonorrhoea, caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, has spread worldwide. Strains resistant to most antibiotics, including ceftriaxone and azithromycin, have emerged to an alarming level. Rapid testing for N. gonorrhoeae and its antimicrobial resistance will therefore contribute to clinical decision making for early diagnosis and rational drug use. METHODS A Cas13a-based assay (specific high-sensitivity enzymatic reporter unlocking; SHERLOCK) was developed for N. gonorrhoeae detection (porA gene) and azithromycin resistance identification (A2059G, C2611T). Assays were evaluated for sensitivity with purified dsDNA and specificity with 17 non-gonococcal strains. Performance of SHERLOCK (porA) was compared with Roche Cobas 4800 using 43 urine samples. Identification of azithromycin resistance mutations (A2059G, C2611T) was evaluated using a total of 84 clinical isolates and 18 urine samples. Lateral flow was tested for this assay as a readout tool. Moreover, we directly assayed 27 urethral swabs from patients with urethritis to evaluate their status in terms of N. gonorrhoeae infection and azithromycin resistance. RESULTS The SHERLOCK assay was successfully developed with a sensitivity of 10 copies/reaction, except 100 copies/reaction for A2059G, and no cross-reaction with other species. Comparison of the SHERLOCK assay with the Cobas 4800 revealed 100% concordance within 18 positive and 25 negative urine samples. Of the 84 isolates, 21 strains with azithromycin resistance mutations were distinguished and further verified by sequencing and MIC determination. In addition, 62.96% (17/27) strains from swab samples were detected with no mutant strains confirmed by sequencing. CONCLUSIONS The SHERLOCK assay for rapid N. gonorrhoeae detection combined with azithromycin resistance testing is a promising method for application in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Luo
- Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, China
| | - Wentao Chen
- Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, China
| | - Zhida Mai
- Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, China
| | - Jianjiang Yang
- Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, China
| | - Xiaomian Lin
- Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, China
| | - Lihong Zeng
- Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, China
| | - Yuying Pan
- Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, China
| | - Qinghui Xie
- Guangdong Dermatology Clinical College, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Qingqing Xu
- Guangdong Dermatology Clinical College, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Li
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Yiwen Liao
- Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, China
| | - Zhanqin Feng
- Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, China
| | - Jiangli Ou
- Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, China
| | - Xiaolin Qin
- Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, China
| | - Heping Zheng
- Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, China
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20
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Golparian D, Unemo M. Antimicrobial resistance prediction in Neisseria gonorrhoeae: Current status and future prospects. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2021; 22:29-48. [PMID: 34872437 DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2022.2015329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Several nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs), mostly real-time PCRs, to detect antimicrobial resistance (AMR) determinants and predict AMR in Neisseria gonorrhoeae are promising, and some may be ready to apply at the point-of-care (POC), but important limitations remain with most NAATs. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) can overcome many of these limitations.Areas covered: Recent advances, with main focus on publications since 2017, in the development and use of NAATs and NGS to predict gonococcal AMR for surveillance and clinical use, and pros and cons of these tests as well as future perspectives for appropriate use of molecular AMR prediction for N. gonorrhoeae.Expert Commentary: NAATs and/or NGS for AMR prediction should supplement culture-based AMR surveillance, which will remain because it detects also AMR due to unknown AMR determinants, and translation into POC tests is imperative for the end-goal of individualized treatment, sparing ceftriaxone±azithromycin. Several challenges for direct testing of clinical, especially pharyngeal, specimens and for accurate prediction of cephalosporins and azithromycin resistance, especially using NAATs, remain. The choice of AMR prediction assay needs to carefully consider the intended use of the assay; limitations intrinsic to the AMR prediction technology, algorithms and specific to chosen methodology; specimen types analyzed; and cost-effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Golparian
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and other STIs, National Reference Laboratory for STIs, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Magnus Unemo
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and other STIs, National Reference Laboratory for STIs, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
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21
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Unemo M, Lahra MM, Escher M, Eremin S, Cole MJ, Galarza P, Ndowa F, Martin I, Dillon JAR, Galas M, Ramon-Pardo P, Weinstock H, Wi T. WHO global antimicrobial resistance surveillance for Neisseria gonorrhoeae 2017-18: a retrospective observational study. THE LANCET. MICROBE 2021; 2:e627-e636. [PMID: 35544082 DOI: 10.1016/s2666-5247(21)00171-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gonorrhoea and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Neisseria gonorrhoeae are major health concerns globally. Increased global surveillance of gonococcal AMR is essential. We aimed to describe the 2017-18 data from WHO's global gonococcal AMR surveillance, and to discuss priorities essential for the effective management and control of gonorrhoea. METHODS We did a retrospective observational study of the AMR data of gonococcal isolates reported to WHO by 73 countries in 2017-18. WHO recommends that each country collects at least 100 gonococcal isolates per year, and that quantitative methods to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration of antimicrobials, interpreted by internationally standardised resistance breakpoints, are used. FINDINGS In 2017-18, 73 countries provided AMR data for one or more drug. Decreased susceptibility or resistance to ceftriaxone was reported by 21 (31%) of 68 reporting countries and to cefixime by 24 (47%) of 51 reporting countries. Resistance to azithromycin was reported by 51 (84%) of 61 reporting countries and to ciprofloxacin by all 70 (100%) reporting countries. The annual proportion of decreased susceptibility or resistance across countries was 0-21% to ceftriaxone and 0-22% to cefixime, and that of resistance was 0-60% to azithromycin and 0-100% to ciprofloxacin. The number of countries reporting gonococcal AMR and resistant isolates, and the number of examined isolates, have increased since 2015-16. Surveillance remains scarce in central America and the Caribbean and eastern Europe, and in the WHO African, Eastern Mediterranean, and South-East Asian regions. INTERPRETATION In many countries, ciprofloxacin resistance was exceedingly high, azithromycin resistance was increasing, and decreased susceptibility or resistance to ceftriaxone and cefixime continued to emerge. WHO's global surveillance of gonococcal AMR needs to expand internationally to provide imperative data for national and international management guidelines and public health policies. Improved prevention, early diagnosis, treatment of index patients and partners, enhanced surveillance (eg, infection, AMR, treatment failures, and antimicrobial use or misuse), and increased knowledge on antimicrobial selection, stewardship, and pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics are essential. The development of rapid, accurate, and affordable point-of-care gonococcal diagnostic tests, new antimicrobials, and gonococcal vaccines is imperative. FUNDING None.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magnus Unemo
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and Other STIs, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
| | - Monica M Lahra
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Sexually Transmitted Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance, New South Wales Health Pathology, Microbiology, Randwick, NSW, Australia
| | - Martina Escher
- Department of the Global HIV, Hepatitis and STI programmes, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sergey Eremin
- Surveillance, Evidence and Laboratory Strengthening, Antimicrobial Resistance Division, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Michelle J Cole
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, UK
| | - Patricia Galarza
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance, National Reference Laboratory for STDs, National Institute of Infectious Diseases-ANLIS Dr Carlos G Malbrán, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Francis Ndowa
- Skin and Genitourinary Medicine Clinic, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Irene Martin
- Public Health Agency of Canada, National Microbiology Laboratory, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Jo-Anne R Dillon
- Vaccine and Infecious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Marcelo Galas
- Communicable Diseases and Environmental Determinants of Health, Pan American Health Organization, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Pilar Ramon-Pardo
- Communicable Diseases and Environmental Determinants of Health, Pan American Health Organization, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Hillard Weinstock
- Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Teodora Wi
- Department of the Global HIV, Hepatitis and STI programmes, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland
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22
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Shaskolskiy B, Kandinov I, Kravtsov D, Filippova M, Chestkov A, Solomka V, Kubanov A, Deryabin D, Dementieva E, Gryadunov D. Prediction of ceftriaxone MIC in Neisseria gonorrhoeae using DNA microarray technology and regression analysis. J Antimicrob Chemother 2021; 76:3151-3158. [PMID: 34458918 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkab308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Decreased susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to extended-spectrum cephalosporins is a major concern. Elucidation of the phenotypic and genetic characteristics of such isolates is a priority task. METHODS We developed a method for predicting the N. gonorrhoeae ceftriaxone susceptibility level (MICcro) by identifying genetic determinants of resistance using low-density hydrogel microarrays and a regression equation. A training dataset, containing 5631 isolates from the Pathogenwatch database and 181 isolates obtained in the Russian Federation during 2018-19, was used to build a regression model. The regression equation was tested on 14 WHO reference strains. Ceftriaxone resistance determinants for the 448 evaluated clinical isolates collected in Russia were identified using microarray analysis, and MICcro values were calculated using the regression equation and compared with those measured by the serial dilution method. RESULTS The regression equation for calculating MICcro values included 20 chromosomal resistance determinants. The greatest contributions to the increase in MICcro were shown to be PBP2: Ala-501→Pro, Ala-311→Val, Gly-545→Ser substitutions, Asp(345-346) insertion; and PorB: Gly-120→Arg substitution. The substitutions PBP2: Ala-501→Thr/Val, PorB: Gly-120→Asn/Asp/Lys and PBP1: Leu-421→Pro had weaker effects. For 94.4% of the isolates in the evaluation set, the predicted MICcro was within one doubling dilution of the experimentally determined MICcro. No ceftriaxone-resistant isolates were identified in the analysed samples from Russia, and no interpretative errors were detected in the MICcro calculations. CONCLUSIONS The developed strategy for predicting ceftriaxone MIC can be used for the continuous surveillance of known and emerging resistant N. gonorrhoeae isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris Shaskolskiy
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 32 Vavilov str., 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Ilya Kandinov
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 32 Vavilov str., 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitry Kravtsov
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 32 Vavilov str., 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Marina Filippova
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 32 Vavilov str., 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander Chestkov
- State Research Center of Dermatovenerology and Cosmetology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Korolenko str. 3/1, 107076 Moscow, Russia
| | - Victoria Solomka
- State Research Center of Dermatovenerology and Cosmetology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Korolenko str. 3/1, 107076 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexey Kubanov
- State Research Center of Dermatovenerology and Cosmetology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Korolenko str. 3/1, 107076 Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitry Deryabin
- State Research Center of Dermatovenerology and Cosmetology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Korolenko str. 3/1, 107076 Moscow, Russia
| | - Ekaterina Dementieva
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 32 Vavilov str., 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitry Gryadunov
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 32 Vavilov str., 119991 Moscow, Russia
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23
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Unemo M, Ahlstrand J, Sánchez-Busó L, Day M, Aanensen D, Golparian D, Jacobsson S, Cole MJ. High susceptibility to zoliflodacin and conserved target (GyrB) for zoliflodacin among 1209 consecutive clinical Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates from 25 European countries, 2018. J Antimicrob Chemother 2021; 76:1221-1228. [PMID: 33564854 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkab024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Novel antimicrobials for treatment of gonorrhoea are imperative. The first-in-class spiropyrimidinetrione zoliflodacin is promising and currently in an international Phase 3 randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT) for treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhoea. We evaluated the in vitro activity of and the genetic conservation of the target (GyrB) and other potential zoliflodacin resistance determinants among 1209 consecutive clinical Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates obtained from 25 EU/European Economic Area (EEA) countries in 2018 and compared the activity of zoliflodacin with that of therapeutic antimicrobials currently used. METHODS MICs of zoliflodacin, ceftriaxone, cefixime, azithromycin and ciprofloxacin were determined using an agar dilution technique for zoliflodacin or using MIC gradient strip tests or an agar dilution technique for the other antimicrobials. Genome sequences were available for 96.1% of isolates. RESULTS Zoliflodacin modal MIC, MIC50, MIC90 and MIC range were 0.125, 0.125, 0.125 and ≤0.004-0.5 mg/L, respectively. The resistance was 49.9%, 6.7%, 1.6% and 0.2% to ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, cefixime and ceftriaxone, respectively. Zoliflodacin did not show any cross-resistance to other tested antimicrobials. GyrB was highly conserved and no zoliflodacin gyrB resistance mutations were found. No fluoroquinolone target GyrA or ParC resistance mutations or mutations causing overexpression of the MtrCDE efflux pump substantially affected the MICs of zoliflodacin. CONCLUSIONS The in vitro susceptibility to zoliflodacin was high and the zoliflodacin target GyrB was conserved among EU/EEA gonococcal isolates in 2018. This study supports further clinical development of zoliflodacin. However, additional zoliflodacin data regarding particularly the treatment of pharyngeal gonorrhoea, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics and resistance selection, including suppression, would be valuable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magnus Unemo
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and Other STIs, National Reference Laboratory for STIs, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Josefine Ahlstrand
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and Other STIs, National Reference Laboratory for STIs, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Leonor Sánchez-Busó
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Big Data Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK.,Genomics and Health Area, Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencian Community (FISABIO-Public Health), Valencia, Spain
| | - Michaela Day
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, UK
| | - David Aanensen
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Big Data Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK.,Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Daniel Golparian
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and Other STIs, National Reference Laboratory for STIs, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Susanne Jacobsson
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and Other STIs, National Reference Laboratory for STIs, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Michelle J Cole
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, UK
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Hadad R, Cole MJ, Ebeyan S, Jacobsson S, Tan LY, Golparian D, Erskine S, Day M, Whiley D, Unemo M. Evaluation of the SpeeDx ResistancePlus® GC and SpeeDx GC 23S 2611 (beta) molecular assays for prediction of antimicrobial resistance/susceptibility to ciprofloxacin and azithromycin in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. J Antimicrob Chemother 2021; 76:84-90. [PMID: 32929456 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkaa381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accurate molecular assays for prediction of antimicrobial resistance (AMR)/susceptibility in Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng) can offer individualized treatment of gonorrhoea and enhanced AMR surveillance. OBJECTIVES We evaluated the new ResistancePlus® GC assay and the GC 23S 2611 (beta) assay (SpeeDx), for prediction of resistance/susceptibility to ciprofloxacin and azithromycin, respectively. METHODS Nine hundred and sixty-seven whole-genome-sequenced Ng isolates from 20 European countries, 143 Ng-positive (37 with paired Ng isolates) and 167 Ng-negative clinical Aptima Combo 2 (AC2) samples, and 143 non-gonococcal Neisseria isolates and closely related species were examined with both SpeeDx assays. RESULTS The sensitivity and specificity of the ResistancePlus® GC assay to detect Ng in AC2 samples were 98.6% and 100%, respectively. ResistancePlus® GC showed 100% sensitivity and specificity for GyrA S91 WT/S91F detection and 99.8% sensitivity and specificity in predicting phenotypic ciprofloxacin resistance. The sensitivity and specificity of the GC 23S 2611 (beta) assay for Ng detection in AC2 samples were 95.8% and 100%, respectively. GC 23S 2611 (beta) showed 100% sensitivity and 99.9% specificity for 23S rRNA C2611 WT/C2611T detection and 64.3% sensitivity and 99.9% specificity for predicting phenotypic azithromycin resistance. Cross-reactions with non-gonococcal Neisseria species were observed with both assays, but the analysis software solved most cross-reactions. CONCLUSIONS The new SpeeDx ResistancePlus® GC assay performed well in the detection of Ng and AMR determinants, especially in urogenital samples. The GC 23S 2611 (beta) assay performed relatively well, but its sensitivity, especially for predicting phenotypic azithromycin resistance, was suboptimal and further optimizations are required, including detection of additional macrolide resistance determinant(s).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronza Hadad
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and other Sexually Transmitted Infections, National Reference Laboratory for Sexually Transmitted Infections, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | | | | | - Susanne Jacobsson
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and other Sexually Transmitted Infections, National Reference Laboratory for Sexually Transmitted Infections, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Lit Yeen Tan
- SpeeDx Pty Ltd, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Daniel Golparian
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and other Sexually Transmitted Infections, National Reference Laboratory for Sexually Transmitted Infections, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | | | - Michaela Day
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, UK
| | - David Whiley
- Faculty of Medicine, UQ Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Magnus Unemo
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and other Sexually Transmitted Infections, National Reference Laboratory for Sexually Transmitted Infections, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
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25
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Xiu L, Zhang C, Li Y, Wang F, Peng J. High-resolution melting analysis for rapid detection of the internationally spreading ceftriaxone-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae FC428 clone. J Antimicrob Chemother 2021; 75:106-109. [PMID: 31834402 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkz395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Revised: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Increased awareness of the international spread of the ceftriaxone-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae FC428 clone, which threatens recommended dual therapy, is essential. The objective of the present study was to develop and evaluate a rapid, simple and cost-effective method based on high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis for direct detection of the FC428 clone from clinical isolates and specimens. METHODS The singleplex HRM assay was designed to identify the FC428 clone by using specific primers, which flank the alteration A311V in the penA-60.001 allele. Analytical performance was initially evaluated by testing 623 isolates and a panel of non-gonococcal strains. To ensure the method can be directly applied in clinical samples, two internal control targets (opa and porA) were also designed and included in the final multiplex HRM assay. Two hundred and eighty-two clinical samples (94 urine and 188 urethral/genital swabs) were then analysed using this multiplex HRM assay. RESULTS The FC428 clone was easily differentiated from the non-mosaic alleles and other mosaic alleles without A311 mutations by comparing the differences in melt curves. Cross-reactivity was not observed for the penA-60.001 allele when testing 15 non-gonococcal Neisseria strains. When applied to the 623 isolates, the HRM assay successfully characterized one isolate as an FC428 clone (MLST1903, NG-MAST3435, NG-STAR233). Our data show that the multiplex HRM assay with high specificity can be directly applied in clinical samples. CONCLUSIONS This method can generate results within 90 min at a cost of less than US$0.5 per isolate or sample, making this assay an ideal tool for large epidemiological studies to enhance surveillance of the internationally transmitted ceftriaxone-resistant N. gonorrhoeae FC428 clone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leshan Xiu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Chi Zhang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yamei Li
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Shenzhen Center for Chronic Disease Control, Shenzhen, China
| | - Junping Peng
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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26
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Kost GJ. Geospatial Spread of Antimicrobial Resistance, Bacterial and Fungal Threats to Coronavirus Infectious Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Survival, and Point-of-Care Solutions. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2021; 145:145-167. [PMID: 32886738 DOI: 10.5858/arpa.2020-0284-ra] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT.— Point-of-care testing (POCT) is inherently spatial, that is, performed where needed, and intrinsically temporal, because it accelerates decision-making. POCT efficiency and effectiveness have the potential to facilitate antimicrobial resistance (AMR) detection, decrease risks of coinfections for critically ill patients with coronavirus infectious disease 2019 (COVID-19), and improve the cost-effectiveness of health care. OBJECTIVES.— To assess AMR identification by using POCT, describe the United States AMR Diagnostic Challenge, and improve global standards of care for infectious diseases. DATA SOURCES.— PubMed, World Wide Web, and other sources were searched for papers focusing on AMR and POCT. EndNote X9.1 (Clarivate Analytics) consolidated abstracts, URLs, and PDFs representing approximately 500 articles were assessed for relevance. Panelist insights at Tri•Con 2020 in San Francisco and finalist POC technologies competing for a US $20,000,000 AMR prize are summarized. CONCLUSIONS.— Coinfections represent high risks for COVID-19 patients. POCT potentially will help target specific pathogens, refine choices for antimicrobial drugs, and prevent excess morbidity and mortality. POC assays that identify patterns of pathogen resistance can help tell us how infected individuals spread AMR, where geospatial hotspots are located, when delays cause death, and how to deploy preventative resources. Shared AMR data "clouds" could help reduce critical care burden during pandemics and optimize therapeutic options, similar to use of antibiograms in individual hospitals. Multidisciplinary health care personnel should learn the principles and practice of POCT, so they can meet needs with rapid diagnostic testing. The stakes are high. Antimicrobial resistance is projected to cause millions of deaths annually and cumulative financial loses in the trillions by 2050.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerald J Kost
- From Knowledge Optimization, Davis, California; and Point-of-Care Testing Center for Teaching and Research (POCT•CTR), University of California, Davis
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27
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Unemo M, Ross J, Serwin AB, Gomberg M, Cusini M, Jensen JS. Background review for the '2020 European guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of gonorrhoea in adults'. Int J STD AIDS 2020; 32:108-126. [PMID: 33323071 DOI: 10.1177/0956462420948739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Gonorrhoea is a major public health concern globally. Increasing incidence and sporadic ceftriaxone-resistant cases, including treatment failures, are growing concerns. The 2020 European gonorrhoea guideline provides up-to-date evidence-based guidance regarding the diagnosis and treatment of gonorrhoea. The updates and recommendations emphasize significantly increasing gonorrhoea incidence; broad indications for increased testing with validated and quality-assured nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) and culture; dual antimicrobial therapy including high-dose ceftriaxone and azithromycin (ceftriaxone 1 g plus azithromycin 2 g) OR ceftriaxone 1 g monotherapy (ONLY in well-controlled settings, see guideline for details) for uncomplicated gonorrhoea when the antimicrobial susceptibility is unknown; recommendation of test of cure (TOC) in all gonorrhoea cases to ensure eradication of infection and identify resistance; and enhanced surveillance of treatment failures when recommended treatment regimens have been used. Improvements in access to appropriate testing, test performance, diagnostics, antimicrobial susceptibility surveillance and treatment, and follow-up of gonorrhoea patients are essential in controlling gonorrhoea and to mitigate the emergence and/or spread of ceftriaxone resistance and multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant gonorrhoea. This review provides the detailed background, evidence base and discussions, for the 2020 European guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of gonorrhoea in adults (Unemo M, et al. Int J STD AIDS. 2020).
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Affiliation(s)
- M Unemo
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and other STIs, National Reference Laboratory for STIs, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Microbiology, Örebro University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Jdc Ross
- University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - A B Serwin
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland
| | - M Gomberg
- Moscow Scientific and Practical Center of Dermatovenereology and Cosmetology, Moscow, Russia
| | - M Cusini
- Department of Dermatology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - J S Jensen
- Infection Preparedness, Research Unit for Reproductive Tract Microbiology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
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28
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Xiu L, Li Y, Wang F, Zhang C, Li Y, Zeng Y, Yin Y, Peng J. Multiplex High-Resolution Melting Assay for Simultaneous Identification of Molecular Markers Associated with Extended-Spectrum Cephalosporins and Azithromycin Resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. J Mol Diagn 2020; 22:1344-1355. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmoldx.2020.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
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29
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Unemo M, Ross J, Serwin AB, Gomberg M, Cusini M, Jensen JS. 2020 European guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of gonorrhoea in adults. Int J STD AIDS 2020:956462420949126. [PMID: 33121366 DOI: 10.1177/0956462420949126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Gonorrhoea is a major public health concern globally. Increasing incidence and sporadic ceftriaxone-resistant cases, including treatment failures, are growing concerns. The 2020 European gonorrhoea guideline provides up-to-date evidence-based guidance regarding the diagnosis and treatment of gonorrhoea. The updates and recommendations emphasize significantly increasing gonorrhoea incidence; broad indications for increased testing with validated and quality-assured nucleic acid amplification tests and culture; dual antimicrobial therapy including high-dose ceftriaxone and azithromycin (ceftriaxone 1 g plus azithromycin 2 g) OR ceftriaxone 1 g monotherapy (ONLY in well-controlled settings, see guideline for details) for uncomplicated gonorrhoea when the antimicrobial susceptibility is unknown; recommendation of test of cure (TOC) in all gonorrhoea cases to ensure eradication of infection and identify resistance; and enhanced surveillance of treatment failures when recommended treatment regimens have been used. Improvements in access to appropriate testing, test performance, diagnostics, antimicrobial susceptibility surveillance and treatment, and follow-up of gonorrhoea patients are essential in controlling gonorrhoea and to mitigate the emergence and/or spread of ceftriaxone resistance and multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant gonorrhoea. For detailed background, evidence base and discussions, see the background review for the present 2020 European guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of gonorrhoea in adults (Unemo M, et al. Int J STD AIDS. 2020).
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Affiliation(s)
- M Unemo
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and other STIs, National Reference Laboratory for STIs, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Microbiology, Örebro University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Jdc Ross
- University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - A B Serwin
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland
| | - M Gomberg
- Moscow Scientific and Practical Center of Dermatovenereology and Cosmetology, Moscow, Russia
| | - M Cusini
- Department of Dermatology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - J S Jensen
- Infection Preparedness, Research Unit for Reproductive Tract Microbiology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma genitalium and Trichomonas vaginalis including relevant resistance-associated mutations in a single center in the Netherlands. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2020; 40:591-595. [PMID: 33029766 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-020-04061-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE In this study, we report the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) amongst clinical specimens of patients suspected for sexually transmitted infections received at our laboratory and in addition report the prevalence of resistance-associated mutations (RAM) for ciprofloxacin in NG and azithromycin and moxifloxacin in MG. METHODS All specimens received from December 2018 to May 2019 were tested for the four pathogens. In addition, the presence of RAM associated with resistance to ciprofloxacin in NG and to azithromycin and moxifloxacin in MG was determined by different real-time PCR assays on all NG- and MG-positive specimens. RESULTS CT was detected most often (267/2613, 10.2%), followed by MG (106/2592, 4.1%), NG (41/2613, 1.6%) and TV (10/2592, 0.4%) amongst all specimens. The prevalence of ciprofloxacin RAM in NG was 21.2%, and the prevalence of RAM in MG was 40.6% for azithromycin and 8.1% for moxifloxacin. Nearly all specimens containing moxifloxacin-resistant MG also contained azithromycin-resistant MG. CONCLUSION CT is found most often in our population followed by MG and NG. By using molecular assays to detect RAM supplementary to pathogen identification of NG and MG, optimal therapy can be advised.
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[Rapid diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections : Joint statement of DSTIG, RKI, and PEI, as well as the reference centers for HIV, HBV, and HCV and consulting laboratories for Chlamydia, gonococci, and Treponema pallidum]. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz 2020; 63:1271-1286. [PMID: 32930821 DOI: 10.1007/s00103-020-03218-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
In February 2019, the fourth expert meeting on rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for sexually transmitted infections (STI) was held at the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in Berlin. Novel technical developments and new aspects of RDT applications were discussed by representatives from the German STI Society (DSTIG); RKI; the Paul Ehrlich Institute; national reference centers for HIV, HBV, and HCV; and reference laboratories for Chlamydia, gonococci, and Treponema pallidum.As a result of this meeting, we present a revision of the joint statement on STI diagnostics with RDTs from 2017. The Regulation (EU) 2017/746 of the European Parliament and of the Council on in vitro diagnostic medical devices became effective in May 2017 and includes more stringent regulatory requirements for RDTs, mainly concerning conformity of manufacturing processes and performance characteristics of class D in vitro diagnostics (detection of HIV, HBV, HCV, and T. pallidum). Some RDTs for HIV, HCV, and T. pallidum have been evaluated in clinical studies and/or were WHO prequalified and may be used in low-threshold services. Among them are some HIV RDTs available and approved for self-testing. In addition, some HBV RDTs based on detection of HBs antigen (HBsAg) received WHO prequalification. However, false negative results may occur in samples with low HBsAg levels, as for instance in HIV-coinfected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy. For Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), antigen-based RDTs still do not allow reliable detection of infection. Only PCR-based CT/NG RDTs possess sufficient diagnostic accuracy to be used as point-of-care tests. Rapid PCR tests for NG, however, do not provide any information about antimicrobial resistance.
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Optimizations to keep gonorrhoea treatable and reduce antimicrobial resistance selection. Nat Rev Urol 2020; 17:609-610. [PMID: 32929254 DOI: 10.1038/s41585-020-00378-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Hanrahan JK, Hogan TR, Buckley C, Trembizki E, Mitchell H, Lau CL, Whiley DM, Lahra MM. Emergence and spread of ciprofloxacin-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae in New South Wales, Australia: lessons from history. J Antimicrob Chemother 2020; 74:2214-2219. [PMID: 31170281 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkz182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Revised: 03/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Our aim was to investigate the emergence and spread of ciprofloxacin resistance in clinical Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates in New South Wales, Australia, from the first reported case in 1991 until ciprofloxacin resistance was sustained at or above the WHO threshold for treatment change of 5% (1999), to inform future strategies for controlling gonococcal antimicrobial resistance. METHODS The index isolate and all subsequent clinical isolates of ciprofloxacin-resistant N. gonorrhoeae in New South Wales from 1991 to 1999 were genotyped using a previously described method on the Agena MassARRAY iPLEX platform. Region of acquisition data, where available, were used to determine whether cases were travel associated. RESULTS In New South Wales, of the 325 ciprofloxacin-resistant N. gonorrhoeae isolates reported from 1991 to 1999, 98% (320/325) were able to be recovered and 100% (320/320) were genotyped. There were 66 different genotypes, comprising 1-99 isolates each. Notably no single clone was found to account for ciprofloxacin resistance being sustained in the population, with considerable variability in genotype prevalence observed throughout the study period. A total of 65% (209/320) of genotyped isolates had information regarding the likely place of acquisition; of these, 44% (93/209) were associated with overseas travel or sexual contact with an overseas visitor. The first ciprofloxacin-resistant N. gonorrhoeae in New South Wales was associated with travel to Thailand. Index cases of each resistant genotype were significantly more likely to have been acquired overseas (51.5%), predominantly in Asia (45%, 30/66). CONCLUSIONS The continued importation of multiple genotypes, rather than the expansion of a single genotype, led to ciprofloxacin-resistant N. gonorrhoeae being established in New South Wales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane K Hanrahan
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Sexually Transmitted Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance, NSWHP Microbiology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales 2031, Australia.,School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052
| | - Tiffany R Hogan
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Sexually Transmitted Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance, NSWHP Microbiology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales 2031, Australia
| | - Cameron Buckley
- Faculty of Medicine, Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland 4029, Australia
| | - Ella Trembizki
- Faculty of Medicine, Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland 4029, Australia
| | - Hazel Mitchell
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052
| | - Colleen L Lau
- Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
| | - David M Whiley
- Faculty of Medicine, Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland 4029, Australia.,Pathology Queensland, Microbiology Department, Herston, Queensland 4029, Australia
| | - Monica M Lahra
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Sexually Transmitted Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance, NSWHP Microbiology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales 2031, Australia.,School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052
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Ferreyra C, Osborn J, Moussy F, Alirol E, Lahra M, Whiley D, Shafer W, Unemo M, Klausner J, Kelly Cirino C, Wi T. Developing target product profiles for Neisseria gonorrhoeae diagnostics in the context of antimicrobial resistance: An expert consensus. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0237424. [PMID: 32870912 PMCID: PMC7462286 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a need for a rapid diagnostic point of care test to detect Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) infection to prevent incorrect, lack or excess of treatment resulting from current syndromic management in low-resource settings. An assay to identify NG antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is also highly desirable to facilitate antibiotic stewardship. Here we describe the development of two target product profiles (TPPs): one for a test for etiological diagnosis of NG and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) (TPP1) and one for the detection of NG AMR/susceptibility (TPP2). METHODS Draft TPPs were initially developed based on a landscape analysis of existing diagnostics and expert input. TPPs were refined via an online Delphi survey with two rounds of input from 68 respondents. TPP characteristics on which <75% of non-industry respondents agreed were further discussed and revised by an expert working group. RESULTS The need for a test to identify NG in patients with urethral or vaginal discharge was identified as a minimal requirement of TPP1, with a test that can diagnose NG in asymptomatic patients as the optimal requirement. A sensitivity of 80% was considered acceptable, either in context of syndromic management or screening high-risk populations. For TPP2, the agreed minimal requirement was for a test to be used at level 2 healthcare facilities and above, with an optimal requirement of level 1 or above. A lateral flow format was preferred for TPP1, while it was considered likely that TPP2 would require a molecular format. A total of 31 test characteristics were included in TPP1 and 27 in TPP2. CONCLUSIONS Following the working group revisions, TPPs were posted online for public feedback for two months, and are now finalized. The final TPPs are currently guiding the development of new diagnostics that meet the defined characteristics to reach the market within two years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Ferreyra
- Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jennifer Osborn
- Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Emilie Alirol
- Global Antibiotic R&D Partnership (GARDP), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Monica Lahra
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Sexually Transmitted Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance, New South Wales Health Pathology, Microbiology, The Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - David Whiley
- Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - William Shafer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA and Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Magnus Unemo
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and Other STIs, National Reference Laboratory for STIs, Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Jeffrey Klausner
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California and David Geffen School of Medicine Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | | | - Teodora Wi
- World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva, Switzerland
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Seña AC, Bachmann L, Johnston C, Wi T, Workowski K, Hook EW, Hocking JS, Drusano G, Unemo M. Optimising treatments for sexually transmitted infections: surveillance, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, therapeutic strategies, and molecular resistance prediction. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2020; 20:e181-e191. [PMID: 32569625 PMCID: PMC8041119 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(20)30171-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2019] [Revised: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Progressive antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma genitalium, and Trichomonas vaginalis has created a pressing need for treatment optimisations for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In this Review, we aim to highlight urgent needs in global STI management, including: (1) improved surveillance to monitor antimicrobial resistance and clinical outcomes; (2) systematic pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evaluations to ensure resistance suppression and bacterial eradication at all sites of infection; (3) development of novel, affordable antimicrobials; and (4) advancements in new molecular and point-of-care tests to detect antimicrobial resistance determinants. Antimicrobial resistance among STIs is a global public health crisis. Continuous efforts to develop novel antimicrobials will be essential, in addition to other public health interventions to reduce the global STI burden. Apart from prevention through safer sexual practices, the development of STI vaccines to prevent transmission is a crucial research priority.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arlene C Seña
- Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Laura Bachmann
- Department of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC, USA; Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Teodora Wi
- Global HIV, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections Programme, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Kimberly Workowski
- Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Edward W Hook
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Jane S Hocking
- Sexual Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - George Drusano
- Institute for Therapeutic Innovation, University of Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Magnus Unemo
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections and the Swedish Reference Laboratory for STIs, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
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Hicks AL, Kissler SM, Mortimer TD, Ma KC, Taiaroa G, Ashcroft M, Williamson DA, Lipsitch M, Grad YH. Targeted surveillance strategies for efficient detection of novel antibiotic resistance variants. eLife 2020; 9:e56367. [PMID: 32602459 PMCID: PMC7326491 DOI: 10.7554/elife.56367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Genotype-based diagnostics for antibiotic resistance represent a promising alternative to empiric therapy, reducing inappropriate antibiotic use. However, because such assays infer resistance based on known genetic markers, their utility will wane with the emergence of novel resistance. Maintenance of these diagnostics will therefore require surveillance to ensure early detection of novel resistance variants, but efficient strategies to do so remain undefined. We evaluate the efficiency of targeted sampling approaches informed by patient and pathogen characteristics in detecting antibiotic resistance and diagnostic escape variants in Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a pathogen associated with a high burden of disease and antibiotic resistance and the development of genotype-based diagnostics. We show that patient characteristic-informed sampling is not a reliable strategy for efficient variant detection. In contrast, sampling informed by pathogen characteristics, such as genomic diversity and genomic background, is significantly more efficient than random sampling in identifying genetic variants associated with resistance and diagnostic escape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison L Hicks
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthBostonUnited States
| | - Stephen M Kissler
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthBostonUnited States
| | - Tatum D Mortimer
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthBostonUnited States
| | - Kevin C Ma
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthBostonUnited States
| | - George Taiaroa
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and ImmunityMelbourneAustralia
| | - Melinda Ashcroft
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and ImmunityMelbourneAustralia
| | - Deborah A Williamson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and ImmunityMelbourneAustralia
| | - Marc Lipsitch
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthBostonUnited States
- Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthBostonUnited States
| | - Yonatan H Grad
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthBostonUnited States
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Point-of-care (POC) tests for Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng) are urgently needed to control the gonorrhea epidemic, so patients can receive immediate diagnoses and treatment. While the advent of nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) has improved the accuracy of Ng identification, very few POC assays are able to provide results of such tests at the clinical visit. Additionally, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) presents a unique treatment challenge for Ng. AREAS COVERED This review notes that older POC tests have lower sensitivity for Ng, compared to the currently-available NAATs, and are not adequate for the current demand for high sensitivity. Promising newer assays, which can be used at the POC are covered. This review also includes data about clinicians' and patients' acceptability and expectations of POC tests for Ng, testing of extragenital specimens, pooling studies, as well as their impact clinically, and use in low-resource settings. EXPERT OPINION The ability to use POC tests to identify and immediately treat Ng infections at the patient encounter offers many benefits and opportunities. POC tests for Ng are currently available, but not widely used especially in low-resource settings. Further development of POC tests with AMR testing capacity is needed to help guide antimicrobial stewardship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte A Gaydos
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Johan H Melendez
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Ngetsa CJ, Heymann MW, Thiong'o A, Wahome E, Mwambi J, Karani C, Menza NC, Mwashigadi G, Muturi MW, Graham SM, Mugo PM, Sanders EJ. Rectal gonorrhoea and chlamydia among men who have sex with men in coastal Kenya. Wellcome Open Res 2020; 4:79. [PMID: 32647750 PMCID: PMC7323594 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.15217.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) have a higher prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) infections compared to the rest of the population, often remaining undiagnosed. In Kenya, prevalence of rectal CT and NG infection and NG antimicrobial sensitivity are poorly described. Methods: MSM who reported receptive anal intercourse (RAI) were recruited from an ongoing human immunodeficiency virus acquisition and treatment study in coastal Kenya in 2016-2017. Rectal swabs were collected at two time points 6 months apart to estimate prevalence and incidence of CT/NG infection using a molecular point-of-care assay. Participants positive for CT or NG were treated according to national guidelines. NG culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed. Participant and risk behaviour characteristics were collected and association with baseline CT/NG prevalence assessed by multivariable regression analysis. Results: Prevalence of CT/NG in 104 MSM was 21.2% (CT 13.5%, NG 9.6%, dual infection 1.9%) at baseline and 25.9% in 81 MSM at follow-up (CT 14.8%, NG 14.8%, dual infection 3.7%). CT/NG incidence was estimated at 53.0 (95% CI, 34.5-81.3) per 100 person-years. Most CT/NG positive participants were asymptomatic: 95.5% at baseline and 100% at follow-up. CT/NG infection was associated with being paid for sex [adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=6.2, 95% CI (1.7-22.9)] and being in formal employment [aOR=7.5, 95% CI (1.1-49.2)]. Six NG isolates were obtained at follow-up; all were susceptible to ceftriaxone and cefixime and all were resistant to penicillin, tetracycline and ciprofloxacin. Conclusions: There is a high prevalence and incidence of asymptomatic rectal CT and NG in MSM reporting RAI in coastal Kenya. MSM who were paid for sex or had formal employment were more likely to be infected with CT/NG suggesting increased risk behaviour during transactional sex. Antimicrobial susceptibility results suggest that current antibiotic choices in Kenya are appropriate for NG treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline J. Ngetsa
- Department of Bioscience, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Marc W. Heymann
- Department of Medicine, Barts and The London NHS Trust, London, E11BB, UK
| | - Alex Thiong'o
- Department of Bioscience, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Elizabeth Wahome
- Department of Bioscience, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - John Mwambi
- Department of Bioscience, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Clara Karani
- Department of Bioscience, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Nelson C. Menza
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Grace Mwashigadi
- Department of Bioscience, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Margaret W. Muturi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Susan M. Graham
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Peter M. Mugo
- Department of Bioscience, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Eduard J. Sanders
- Department of Bioscience, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, UK
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'Gentamicin 240 mg plus azithromycin 2 g vs. ceftriaxone 500 mg plus azithromycin 2 g for treatment of rectal and pharyngeal gonorrhoea' – Author’s reply. Clin Microbiol Infect 2020; 26:799-800. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2020.02.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Toskin I, Govender V, Blondeel K, Murtagh M, Unemo M, Zemouri C, Peeling RW, Kiarie J. Call to action for health systems integration of point-of-care testing to mitigate the transmission and burden of sexually transmitted infections. Sex Transm Infect 2020; 96:342-347. [PMID: 32241905 PMCID: PMC7402556 DOI: 10.1136/sextrans-2019-054358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 01/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives In 2016, WHO estimated 376 million new cases of the four main curable STIs: gonorrhoea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis and syphilis. Further, an estimated 290 million women are infected with human papillomavirus. STIs may lead to severe reproductive health sequelae. Low-income and middle-income countries carry the highest global burden of STIs. A large proportion of urogenital and the vast majority of extragenital non-viral STI cases are asymptomatic. Screening key populations and early and accurate diagnosis are important to provide correct treatment and to control the spread of STIs. This article paints a picture of the state of technology of STI point-of-care testing (POCT) and its implications for health system integration. Methods The material for the STI POCT landscape was gathered from publicly available information, published and unpublished reports and prospectuses, and interviews with developers and manufacturers. Results The development of STI POCT is moving rapidly, and there are much more tests in the pipeline than in 2014, when the first STI POCT landscape analysis was published on the website of WHO. Several of the available tests need to be evaluated independently both in the laboratory and, of particular importance, in different points of care. Conclusion This article reiterates the importance of accurate, rapid and affordable POCT to reach universal health coverage. While highlighting the rapid technical advances in this area, we argue that insufficient attention is being paid to health systems capacity and conditions to ensure the swift and rapid integration of current and future STI POCT. Unless the complexity of health systems, including context, institutions, adoption systems and problem perception, are recognised and mapped, simplistic approaches to policy design and programme implementation will result in poor realisation of intended outcomes and impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor Toskin
- Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Veloshnee Govender
- Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Karel Blondeel
- Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Magnus Unemo
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and Other STIs, National Reference Laboratory for STIs, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | | | - Rosanna W Peeling
- International Diagnostics Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - James Kiarie
- Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland
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Ngetsa CJ, Heymann MW, Thiong'o A, Wahome E, Mwambi J, Karani C, Menza NC, Mwashigadi G, Muturi MW, Graham SM, Mugo PM, Sanders EJ. Rectal gonorrhoea and chlamydia among men who have sex with men in coastal Kenya. Wellcome Open Res 2020; 4:79. [PMID: 32647750 PMCID: PMC7323594 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.15217.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) have a higher prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) infections compared to the rest of the population, often remaining undiagnosed. In Kenya, prevalence of rectal CT and NG infection and NG antimicrobial sensitivity are poorly described. Methods: MSM who reported receptive anal intercourse (RAI) were recruited from an ongoing human immunodeficiency virus acquisition and treatment study in coastal Kenya in 2016-2017. Rectal swabs were collected at two time points 6 months apart to estimate prevalence and incidence of CT/NG infection using a molecular point-of-care assay. Participants positive for CT or NG were treated according to national guidelines. NG culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed. Participant and risk behaviour characteristics were collected and association with baseline CT/NG prevalence assessed by multivariable regression analysis. Results: Prevalence of CT/NG in 104 MSM was 21.2% (CT 13.5%, NG 9.6%, dual infection 1.9%) at baseline and 25.9% in 81 MSM at follow-up (CT 14.8%, NG 14.8%, dual infection 3.7%). CT/NG incidence was estimated at 53.0 (95% CI, 34.5-81.3) per 100 person-years. Most CT/NG positive participants were asymptomatic: 95.5% at baseline and 100% at follow-up. CT/NG infection was associated with being paid for sex [adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=6.2, 95% CI (1.7-22.9)] and being in formal employment [aOR=7.5, 95% CI (1.1-49.2)]. Six NG isolates were obtained at follow-up; all were susceptible to ceftriaxone and cefixime and all were resistant to penicillin, tetracycline and ciprofloxacin. Conclusions: There is a high prevalence and incidence of asymptomatic rectal CT and NG in MSM reporting RAI in coastal Kenya. MSM who were paid for sex or had formal employment were more likely to be infected with CT/NG suggesting increased risk behaviour during transactional sex. Antimicrobial susceptibility results suggest that current antibiotic choices in Kenya are appropriate for NG treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline J. Ngetsa
- Department of Bioscience, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Marc W. Heymann
- Department of Medicine, Barts and The London NHS Trust, London, E11BB, UK
| | - Alex Thiong'o
- Department of Bioscience, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Elizabeth Wahome
- Department of Bioscience, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - John Mwambi
- Department of Bioscience, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Clara Karani
- Department of Bioscience, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Nelson C. Menza
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Grace Mwashigadi
- Department of Bioscience, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Margaret W. Muturi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Susan M. Graham
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Peter M. Mugo
- Department of Bioscience, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Eduard J. Sanders
- Department of Bioscience, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, UK
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Meyer T, Buder S. The Laboratory Diagnosis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae: Current Testing and Future Demands. Pathogens 2020; 9:E91. [PMID: 32024032 PMCID: PMC7169389 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9020091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The ideal laboratory test to detect Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng) should be sensitive, specific, easy to use, rapid, and affordable and should provide information about susceptibility to antimicrobial drugs. Currently, such a test is not available and presumably will not be in the near future. Thus, diagnosis of gonococcal infections presently includes application of different techniques to address these requirements. Microscopy may produce rapid results but lacks sensitivity in many cases (except symptomatic urogenital infections in males). Highest sensitivity to detect Ng was shown for nucleic acid amplification technologies (NAATs), which, however, are less specific than culture. In addition, comprehensive analysis of antibiotic resistance is accomplished only by in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testing of cultured isolates. As a light at the end of the tunnel, new developments of molecular techniques and microfluidic systems represent promising opportunities to design point-of-care tests for rapid detection of Ng with high sensitivity and specificity, and there is reason to hope that such tests may also provide antimicrobial resistance data in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Meyer
- Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr-University, 44791 Bochum, Germany
| | - Susanne Buder
- German Consiliary Laboratory for Gonococci, Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Vivantes Hospital Berlin, 12351 Berlin, Germany;
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Ngetsa CJ, Heymann MW, Thiong'o A, Wahome E, Mwambi J, Karani C, Menza NC, Mwashigadi G, Muturi MW, Graham SM, Mugo PM, Sanders EJ. Rectal gonorrhoea and chlamydia among men who have sex with men in coastal Kenya. Wellcome Open Res 2019; 4:79. [PMID: 32647750 PMCID: PMC7323594 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.15217.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) have a higher prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) infections compared to the rest of the population, often remaining undiagnosed. In Kenya, prevalence of rectal CT and NG infection and NG antimicrobial sensitivity are poorly described. Methods: MSM who reported receptive anal intercourse (RAI) were recruited from an ongoing human immunodeficiency virus acquisition and treatment study in coastal Kenya in 2016-2017. Rectal swabs were collected at two time points 6 months apart to estimate prevalence and incidence of CT/NG infection using a molecular point-of-care assay. Participants positive for CT or NG were treated according to national guidelines. NG culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed. Participant and risk behaviour characteristics were collected and association with baseline CT/NG prevalence assessed by multivariable regression analysis. Results: Prevalence of CT/NG in 104 MSM was 21.2% (CT 13.5%, NG 9.6%, dual infection 1.9%) at baseline and 25.9% in 81 MSM at follow-up (CT 14.8%, NG 14.8%, dual infection 3.7%). CT/NG incidence was estimated at 53.0 (95% CI, 34.5-81.3) per 100 person-years. Most CT/NG positive participants were asymptomatic: 95.5% at baseline and 100% at follow-up. CT/NG infection was associated with being paid for sex [adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=6.2, 95% CI (1.7-22.9)] and being in formal employment [aOR=7.5, 95% CI (1.1-49.2)]. Six NG isolates were obtained at follow-up; all were susceptible to ceftriaxone and cefixime and all were resistant to penicillin, tetracycline and ciprofloxacin. Conclusions: There is a high prevalence and incidence of asymptomatic rectal CT and NG in MSM reporting RAI in coastal Kenya. MSM who were paid for sex or had formal employment were more likely to be infected with CT/NG suggesting increased risk behaviour during transactional sex. Antimicrobial susceptibility results suggest that current antibiotic choices in Kenya are appropriate for NG treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline J. Ngetsa
- Department of Bioscience, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Marc W. Heymann
- Department of Medicine, Barts and The London NHS Trust, London, E11BB, UK
| | - Alex Thiong'o
- Department of Bioscience, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Elizabeth Wahome
- Department of Bioscience, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - John Mwambi
- Department of Bioscience, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Clara Karani
- Department of Bioscience, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Nelson C. Menza
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Grace Mwashigadi
- Department of Bioscience, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Margaret W. Muturi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Susan M. Graham
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Peter M. Mugo
- Department of Bioscience, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Eduard J. Sanders
- Department of Bioscience, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, UK
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Cole MJ, Quinten C, Jacobsson S, Day M, Amato-Gauci AJ, Woodford N, Spiteri G, Unemo M. The European gonococcal antimicrobial surveillance programme (Euro-GASP) appropriately reflects the antimicrobial resistance situation for Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the European Union/European Economic Area. BMC Infect Dis 2019; 19:1040. [PMID: 31822275 PMCID: PMC6902330 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-019-4631-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2018] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background European Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme (Euro-GASP) antimicrobial resistance (AMR) data are used to inform gonorrhoea treatment guidelines; therefore the data need to be robust and representative. We assessed the extent to which Euro-GASP reflects national measures of the AMR situation for Neisseria gonorrhoeae across the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA). Methods We compared data from Euro-GASP with published national gonococcal AMR data from 15 countries for azithromycin, cefixime and ciprofloxacin for the period 2009 to 2013 and performed Poisson regression to identify differences (p < 0.05) between the proportions of resistant isolates. The 2014 Euro-GASP AMR data for each country (n = 19) were weighted to account for differences in the distribution of patient characteristics between Euro-GASP and EU/EEA epidemiological gonorrhoea surveillance data. Data were compared to determine whether estimates of resistance levels differed with regards to the 5% threshold used to assess the clinical utility of first-line gonorrhoea treatments. We assessed the quality of decentralised testing by comparing AMR data for isolates tested both centrally and in the participating laboratories, and by evaluating external quality assessment (EQA) performance. Results There was no significant difference for azithromycin, cefixime and ciprofloxacin resistance when Euro-GASP country data were compared with data from national reports. Weighting slightly altered the Euro-GASP AMR estimates (by between − 4.7 and 4.7% from the unweighted estimates). Weighting resulted in greater changes in estimates of resistance to azithromycin (from − 9.5 to 2.7%) and ciprofloxacin (from − 14.8 to 17.9%) in countries with low isolate numbers and low completeness of reporting (n = 3). Weighting caused AMR levels to fall below or above the 5% threshold for cefixime or azithromycin, respectively in only two countries. Susceptibility category data submitted from the decentralised Euro-GASP laboratories were concordant with the Euro-GASP data (> 90%). EQA performance was also good; < 5% of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) results differed by > 4-fold from the modal MIC of the EQA isolate. Conclusions The overall prevalence of AMR reported by Euro-GASP reflects closely the AMR situation for N. gonorrhoeae in the EU/EEA. Euro-GASP data can be used to provide robust AMR estimates to inform the European guideline for the management of gonorrhoea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle J Cole
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections (AMRHAI) Reference Unit, National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, UK.
| | - Chantal Quinten
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Susanne Jacobsson
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and other STIs, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Michaela Day
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections (AMRHAI) Reference Unit, National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, UK
| | | | - Neil Woodford
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections (AMRHAI) Reference Unit, National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, UK
| | | | - Magnus Unemo
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and other STIs, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
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Abstract
The bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae causes the sexually transmitted infection (STI) gonorrhoea, which has an estimated global annual incidence of 86.9 million adults. Gonorrhoea can present as urethritis in men, cervicitis or urethritis in women, and in extragenital sites (pharynx, rectum, conjunctiva and, rarely, systemically) in both sexes. Confirmation of diagnosis requires microscopy of Gram-stained samples, bacterial culture or nucleic acid amplification tests. As no gonococcal vaccine is available, prevention relies on promoting safe sexual behaviours and reducing STI-associated stigma, which hinders timely diagnosis and treatment thereby increasing transmission. Single-dose systemic therapy (usually injectable ceftriaxone plus oral azithromycin) is the recommended first-line treatment. However, a major public health concern globally is that N. gonorrhoeae is evolving high levels of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which threatens the effectiveness of the available gonorrhoea treatments. Improved global surveillance of the emergence, evolution, fitness, and geographical and temporal spread of AMR in N. gonorrhoeae, and improved understanding of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics for current and future antimicrobials in the treatment of urogenital and extragenital gonorrhoea, are essential to inform treatment guidelines. Key priorities for gonorrhoea control include strengthening prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of patients and their partners; decreasing stigma; expanding surveillance of AMR and treatment failures; and promoting responsible antimicrobial use and stewardship. To achieve these goals, the development of rapid and affordable point-of-care diagnostic tests that can simultaneously detect AMR, novel therapeutic antimicrobials and gonococcal vaccine(s) in particular is crucial.
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Unemo M, Lahra MM, Cole M, Galarza P, Ndowa F, Martin I, Dillon JAR, Ramon-Pardo P, Bolan G, Wi T. World Health Organization Global Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Program (WHO GASP): review of new data and evidence to inform international collaborative actions and research efforts. Sex Health 2019; 16:412-425. [PMID: 31437420 PMCID: PMC7035961 DOI: 10.1071/sh19023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a serious public health problem, compromising the management and control of gonorrhoea globally. Resistance in N. gonorrhoeae to ceftriaxone, the last option for first-line empirical monotherapy of gonorrhoea, has been reported from many countries globally, and sporadic failures to cure especially pharyngeal gonorrhoea with ceftriaxone monotherapy and dual antimicrobial therapies (ceftriaxone plus azithromycin or doxycycline) have been confirmed in several countries. In 2018, the first gonococcal isolates with ceftriaxone resistance plus high-level azithromycin resistance were identified in England and Australia. The World Health Organization (WHO) Global Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Program (GASP) is essential to monitor AMR trends, identify emerging AMR and provide evidence for refinements of treatment guidelines and public health policy globally. Herein we describe the WHO GASP data from 67 countries in 2015-16, confirmed gonorrhoea treatment failures with ceftriaxone with or without azithromycin or doxycycline, and international collaborative actions and research efforts essential for the effective management and control of gonorrhoea. In most countries, resistance to ciprofloxacin is exceedingly high, azithromycin resistance is present and decreased susceptibility or resistance to ceftriaxone has emerged. Enhanced global collaborative actions are crucial for the control of gonorrhoea, including improved prevention, early diagnosis, treatment of index patient and partner (including test-of-cure), improved and expanded AMR surveillance (including surveillance of antimicrobial use and treatment failures), increased knowledge of correct antimicrobial use and the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of antimicrobials and effective drug regulations and prescription policies (including antimicrobial stewardship). Ultimately, rapid, accurate and affordable point-of-care diagnostic tests (ideally also predicting AMR and/or susceptibility), new therapeutic antimicrobials and, the only sustainable solution, gonococcal vaccine(s) are imperative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magnus Unemo
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and Other STIs, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, SE-701 85 Örebro, Sweden; and Corresponding author.
| | - Monica M Lahra
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Sexually Transmitted Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance, New South Wales Health Pathology, Microbiology, Randwick, NSW, Australia
| | - Michelle Cole
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, UK
| | - Patricia Galarza
- National Reference Laboratory for STDs, National Institute of Infectious Diseases - ANLIS 'Dr Carlos G. Malbrán', Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Francis Ndowa
- Skin and Genitourinary Medicine Clinic, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Irene Martin
- Public Health Agency of Canada, National Microbiology Laboratory, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | | | - Pilar Ramon-Pardo
- Communicable Diseases and Environmental Determinants of Health Department Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Gail Bolan
- Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Teodora Wi
- Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
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Lee H, Suh YH, Lee S, Kim YK, Han MS, Bae HG, Unemo M, Lee K. Emergence and Spread of Cephalosporin-Resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae with Mosaic penA Alleles, South Korea, 2012-2017. Emerg Infect Dis 2019; 25:416-424. [PMID: 30789143 PMCID: PMC6390772 DOI: 10.3201/eid2503.181503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In South Korea, surveillance of antimicrobial drug resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae is extremely limited. We describe the emergence and subsequent national spread of N. gonorrhoeae strains with mosaic penA alleles associated with decreased susceptibility and resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporins. From 2012 through 2017, the proportion of mosaic penA alleles in gonococcal-positive nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) specimens across South Korea increased from 1.1% to 23.9%. Gonococcal strains with mosaic penA alleles emerged in the international hubs of Seoul in Gyeonggi Province and Busan in South Gyeongsang Province and subsequently spread across South Korea. Most common was mosaic penA-10.001 (n = 572 isolates; 94.7%), which is associated with cefixime resistance. We also identified mosaic penA-34.001 and penA-60.001, both of which are associated with multidrug-resistant gonococcal strains and spread of cefixime and ceftriaxone resistance. Implementation of molecular resistance prediction from N. gonorrhoeae–positive nucleic acid amplification test specimens is imperative in South Korea and internationally.
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Wi TEC, Ndowa FJ, Ferreyra C, Kelly‐Cirino C, Taylor MM, Toskin I, Kiarie J, Santesso N, Unemo M. Diagnosing sexually transmitted infections in resource-constrained settings: challenges and ways forward. J Int AIDS Soc 2019; 22 Suppl 6:e25343. [PMID: 31468679 PMCID: PMC6715950 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remain prevalent and are increasing in several populations. Appropriate STI diagnosis is crucial to prevent the transmission and sequelae of untreated infection. We reviewed the diagnostic accuracy of syndromic case management and existing point-of-care tests (POCTs), including those in the pipeline, to diagnose STIs in resource-constrained settings. METHODS We prioritized updating the systematic review and meta-analysis of the diagnostic accuracy of vaginal discharge from 2001 to 2015 to include studies until 2018. We calculated the absolute effects of different vaginal flowcharts and the diagnostic performance of POCTs on important outcomes. We searched the peer-reviewed literature for previously conducted systematic reviews and articles from 1990 to 2018 on the diagnostic accuracy of syndromic management of vaginal and urethral discharge, genital ulcer and anorectal infections. We conducted literature reviews from 2000 to 2018 on the existing POCTs and those in the pipeline. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS The diagnostic accuracy of urethral discharge and genital ulcer disease syndromes is relatively adequate. Asymptomatic Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) infections limit the use of vaginal discharge and anorectal syndromes. The pooled diagnostic accuracy of vaginal syndromic case management for CT/NG is low, resulting in high numbers of overtreatment and missed treatment. The absolute effect of POCTs was reduced overtreatment and missed treatment. Findings of the reviews on syndromic case management underscored the need for low-cost and accurate POCTs for the identification, first, of CT/NG, and, second, of Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) and NG and MG resistance/susceptibility testing. Near-patient POCT molecular assays for CT/NG/TV are commercially available. The prices of these POCTs remain the barrier for uptake in resource-constrained settings. This is driving the development of lower cost solutions. CONCLUSIONS The WHO syndromic case management guidelines should be updated to raise the quality of STI management through the integration of laboratory tests. STI screening strategies are needed to address asymptomatic STIs. POCTs that are accurate, rapid, simple and affordable are urgently needed in resource-constrained settings to support the uptake of aetiological diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teodora EC Wi
- Department of Reproductive Health and ResearchWorld Health OrganizationGenevaSwitzerland
| | | | | | | | - Melanie M Taylor
- Department of Reproductive Health and ResearchWorld Health OrganizationGenevaSwitzerland
| | - Igor Toskin
- Department of Reproductive Health and ResearchWorld Health OrganizationGenevaSwitzerland
| | - James Kiarie
- Department of Reproductive Health and ResearchWorld Health OrganizationGenevaSwitzerland
| | - Nancy Santesso
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and BiostatisticsMcMaster UniversityOntarioCanada
| | - Magnus Unemo
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Gonorrhoea and other STIsDepartment of Laboratory MedicineFaculty of Medicine and HealthÖrebro UniversityÖrebroSweden
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Ngetsa CJ, Heymann MW, Thiong'o A, Wahome E, Mwambi J, Karani C, Menza NC, Mwashigadi G, Muturi MW, Graham SM, Mugo PM, Sanders EJ. Rectal gonorrhoea and chlamydia among men who have sex with men in coastal Kenya. Wellcome Open Res 2019; 4:79. [PMID: 32647750 PMCID: PMC7323594 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.15217.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) experience a high burden of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoea (NG) infections. These remain largely undiagnosed in the context of syndromic treatment. In Kenya, prevalence of rectal CT and NG infection and NG antimicrobial sensitivity are poorly described. Methods: MSM who reported receptive anal intercourse (RAI) were recruited from an ongoing human immunodeficiency virus acquisition and treatment study in coastal Kenya in 2016-2017. Rectal swabs were collected at two time points 6 months apart to estimate prevalence of CT/NG using a molecular point-of-care assay. Participants positive for CT or NG were treated according to national guidelines. NG culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed. Participant and risk behaviour characteristics were collected and association with baseline CT/NG prevalence was assessed by multivariable regression analysis. Results: Prevalence of CT/NG in 104 MSM was 21.2% (CT 13.5%, NG 9.6%, dual infection 1.9%) at baseline and 25% in 84 MSM at follow-up (CT 14.3%, NG 14.3%, dual infection 3.6%). Most CT/NG positive participants were asymptomatic: 95.5% at baseline and 100% at follow-up. CT/NG infection was associated with being paid for sex (aOR=6.2, 95%CI (1.7-22.9)) and being in formal employment (aOR=7.5, 95%CI (1.14-49.2)). Six NG isolates were obtained at follow-up; all isolates were susceptible to ceftriaxone and cefixime (1 st line treatment for NG) and all were resistant to penicillin, tetracycline and ciprofloxacin. Conclusions: The high prevalence of asymptomatic rectal CT and NG in MSM reporting RAI demonstrates the need for frequent screening or presumptive treatment. MSM who were paid for sex or had formal employment were more likely to be infected with CT/NG, suggesting increased risk behaviour during transactional sex. Antimicrobial susceptibility results suggest that current antibiotic choices in Kenya are appropriate for NG treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline J. Ngetsa
- Department of Bioscience, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Marc W. Heymann
- Department of Medicine, Barts and The London NHS Trust, London, E11BB, UK
| | - Alex Thiong'o
- Department of Bioscience, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Elizabeth Wahome
- Department of Bioscience, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - John Mwambi
- Department of Bioscience, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Clara Karani
- Department of Bioscience, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Nelson C. Menza
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Grace Mwashigadi
- Department of Bioscience, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Margaret W. Muturi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Susan M. Graham
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Peter M. Mugo
- Department of Bioscience, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Eduard J. Sanders
- Department of Bioscience, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, UK
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Suzuki S, Hoshi SI, Sekizawa A, Sagara Y, Tanaka M, Kinoshita K, Kitamura T. Current status of Neisseria gonorrhoeae cervicitis in pregnant women in Japan. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0211595. [PMID: 30730922 PMCID: PMC6366733 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We evaluated the current prevalence of gonococcal cervicitis among pregnant women in institutes that either do or do not routinely screen for gonococcal infection in Japan. We requested 2,330 obstetrical facilities to provide information on Neisseria gonorrhoeae cervicitis in pregnant women. A total of 1,876 (80.5%) of them responded. The universal screening test for gonococcal cervicitis, involving nucleic acid amplification for all pregnant women, was performed in 281 institutes (13.9% of institutes across Japan). The total rate of pregnant women with gonococcal cervicitis was 1.3% in the institutes performing the screening test during pregnancy, while it was only 0.2% (p < 0.01) in those not performing it. This suggests that 84% of infected women may have been missed in the institutes that do not routinely perform the screening test for gonococcal cervicitis. It may be time to examine the cost-effectiveness of providing gonococcal screening for all pregnant women in Japan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunji Suzuki
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Japanese Red Cross Katsushika Maternity Hospital, Tokyo, JAPAN
- Japan Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Tokyo, JAPAN
- * E-mail:
| | - Shin-ichi Hoshi
- Japan Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Tokyo, JAPAN
| | - Akihiko Sekizawa
- Japan Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Tokyo, JAPAN
| | - Yoko Sagara
- Japan Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Tokyo, JAPAN
| | - Masanobu Tanaka
- Japan Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Tokyo, JAPAN
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