Annual report of the Australian Gonococcal Surveillance Programme, 2001

The Australian Gonococcal Surveillance Programme monitors the antibiotic susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated in all States and Territories. In 2001 the in vitro susceptibility of 3,641 isolates of gonococci from public and private sector sources was determined by standardised methods. Antibiotic susceptibility patterns again varied considerably between regions. Resistance to the penicillins remained high in larger urban centres and warrants close attention in those rural centres where treatment with the penicillins continues. Quinolone resistance in gonococci (QRNG) became more widespread in Australia in 2001 and MICs increased. Nationally, 17.5 per cent of all isolates were QRNG. Endemic cycles of transmission of QRNG in homosexually active men declined further, but heterosexual transmission increased substantially. All isolates remained sensitive to spectinomycin. A small number of isolates in a number of jurisdictions again showed some decreased susceptibility to ceftriaxone. A high proportion of gonococci examined in larger urban centres were from male patients, and rectal and pharyngeal isolates were common. In other centres and in rural Australia the male to female ratio of cases was lower, and most isolates were from the genital tract.