Emerging resistance in Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2011 Feb;9(2):237-44. doi: 10.1586/eri.10.171.

Abstract

The value of monitoring antimicrobial resistance is particularly significant for Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae diseases, even if it is for different reasons. Although there is no global alert for the spread of resistant meningococcal strains, the emergence of resistance is correlated to the outcome of treatment and the successful prophylaxis of close contacts. Few cases of resistance among meningococci have been recorded worldwide; it remains unclear what intriguing mechanism is responsible for maintaining resistance in these cases in the absence of significant antibiotic selective pressure, as in the case of penicillin; on the contrary, although rifampicin is the antibiotic of choice in the prophylaxis of close contacts, there is a very low rate of resistance. The emergence of multidrug-resistant N. gonorrhoeae is a great challenge in controlling gonorrhea as one of the main sexually transmitted bacterial diseases. International surveillance programs permit the monitoring of the susceptibility of the pathogen and allow the revision of the standardized treatment regimen when the situation changes.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Retracted Publication

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial*
  • Gonorrhea / drug therapy
  • Gonorrhea / epidemiology*
  • Gonorrhea / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Meningococcal Infections / drug therapy
  • Meningococcal Infections / epidemiology*
  • Meningococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae / drug effects*
  • Neisseria meningitidis / drug effects*
  • Population Surveillance

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents