Annual report of the Australian Gonococcal Surveillance Programme, 2006

The Australian Gonococcal Surveillance Programme (AGSP) monitors the antibiotic susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated in all states and territories. In 2006 the in vitro susceptibility of 3,850 isolates of gonococci from public and private sector sources was determined by standardised methods. Different antibiotic susceptibility patterns were again seen in the various jurisdictions and regions. Resistance to the penicillins nationally was at 34% and, with the exception of the Northern Territory, ranged between 17% and 51%. Quinolone resistance in gonococci increased, especially in Queensland, with resistance to this agent found in all jurisdictions. Nationally, 38% of all isolates were ciprofloxacin-resistant, and most of this resistance was at high minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) levels. With the exception of the Northern Territory excepted, proportions of quinolone resistant gonococci ranged between 16% and 54%. All isolates remained sensitive to spectinomycin. Less than 1% of isolates 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.