Azithromycin Susceptibility Among Neisseria gonorrhoeae Isolates and Seasonal Macrolide Use

J Infect Dis. 2019 Jan 29;219(4):619-623. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiy551.

Abstract

Rising azithromycin nonsusceptibility among Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates threatens current treatment recommendations, but the cause of this rise is not well understood. We performed an ecological study of seasonal patterns in macrolide use and azithromycin resistance in N. gonorrhoeae, finding that population-wide macrolide use is associated with increased azithromycin nonsusceptibility. These results, indicative of bystander selection, have implications for antibiotic prescribing guidelines.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Azithromycin / pharmacology*
  • Azithromycin / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial*
  • Drug Utilization / statistics & numerical data*
  • Gonorrhea / microbiology*
  • Humans
  • Macrolides / pharmacology
  • Macrolides / therapeutic use*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae / drug effects*
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae / isolation & purification
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Macrolides
  • Azithromycin