Behavioral and Socioeconomic Risk Factors Associated with Probable Resistance to Ceftriaxone and Resistance to Penicillin and Tetracycline in Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Shanghai

Abstract

Globally, incidence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection is once again the highest of the bacterial sexually transmitted infections. The bacterium can produce serious complications in those infected, and emerging resistance to third generation cephalosporins could usher in an era of potentially untreatable gonorrhea. This research aimed to identify risk factors for antibiotic resistant gonorrhea infection among clients at a Shanghai sexually transmitted infection clinic over two time periods, 2004–2005 and 2008–2011. Demographic and risk factor behavior data, and biological samples for antimicrobial resistance analysis, were collected. Statistical models were built to identify risk factors associated with probable resistance to ceftriaxone and resistance to penicillin and tetracycline. High levels of ciprofloxacin resistance (98%) in our sample precluded examining its risk factors; all isolates were susceptible to spectinomycin. Overall (P<0.001), chromosomal (P<0.001), and plasmid-mediated (P = 0.01) penicillin resistance decreased from the first to second period of the study. For tetracycline, chromosomal resistance decreased (P = 0.01) and plasmid-mediated resistance increased (P<0.001) between the first and second periods of study. In multi-level multivariable regression models, male gender (P = 0.03) and older age (P = 0.01) were associated with increased minimum inhibitory concentrations to ceftriaxone. Male gender (P = 0.03) and alcohol use (P = 0.02) were associated with increased odds of overall tetracycline resistance. Male gender was associated with increased odds of chromosomally-mediated tetracycline resistance (P = 0.04), and alcohol use was associated with increased odds of plasmid-mediated tetracycline resistance (P = 0.02). Additionally, individuals in middle-salary categories were found to have lower odds of plasmid-mediated resistance to tetracycline compared with those in the lowest salary category (P≤0.02). This study is one of the first to use multilevel analysis to consider the association between risk factors for gonorrhea infections and mechanisms of resistance to individual antibiotics. Such information is urgently needed to combat the growing threat of untreatable gonorrhea.

Trends and determinants of antimicrobial susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the Netherlands, 2007 to 2015

“…Like Trecker et al [ 44 ] and McLean et al [ 45 ] but in contrast to Town et al [ 46 ], our study showed a significant association with age: for heterosexual men, being older than 25 years of age was significantly associated with resistance to azithromycin and being older than 35 years of age was associated with decreased susceptibility to ceftriaxone. We also found a significant association with a higher number of sex partners (3–5 partners) and resistance to azithromycin among heterosexual men.…”

Exploring quinolone resistance-determining region in Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates from across India

“…The public health burden of N. gonorrhoeae infections is heightened due to continued high rates of resistance to previously used antimicrobials including fluoroquinolones. High rates of ciprofloxacin resistance have been reported from different parts of the world and more recently from Shanghai 16 . Our region itself has reported high rates (83.3%) in 2008 17 and 94 per cent thereafter 18 .…”

The prevalence and epidemiology of plasmid-mediated penicillin and tetracycline resistance among Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates in Guangzhou, China, 2002–2012

“…In Nanjing, China, PPNG and TRNG were reported to increase from 8.0 to 44.4 % and from 1.8 to 32.8 % respectively during 1999–2006 [ 31 ]. A high PPNG prevalence of 51.3 and 49.2 % were maintained while a TRNG increased from 19.6 to 42.1 % was observed in the neighboring city of Shanghai over two time periods, 2004–2005 and 2008–2011 [ 32 ]. In Guangzhou, the prevalence of PPNG increased yearly from 2 to 21.8 % and TRNG from 1.5 to 27.2 % during 1996–2001 [ 21 ].…”