Antimicrobial susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates in Vientiane, Lao PDR.

Savandalath Phouangsouvanh,David A.B Dance,Manivanh Vongsouvath,Mayfong Mayxay,Viengmon Davong,Valy Keoluangkhot

doi:10.1016/j.jgar.2017.12.001

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Laos). A total of 165 gonococcal isolates (1.3%) were obtained from 12 281 genital samples routinely submitted to a diagnostic laboratory in Vientiane, Laos, between 2011 and 2015. Susceptibility to five antibiotics was determined by the standard disk diffusion method for 158 of the isolates. Rates of resistance to penicillin (by β-lactamase production), tetracycline and ciprofloxacin were 89.9%, 99.4% and 84.8%, respectively. All isolates were susceptible to ceftriaxone and spectinomycin. The situation in Laos is similar to that in neighbouring countries; this fortunately means that the latest Lao national guidelines for treating gonorrhoea should still be effective.

Highlights

Routine culture for N. gonorrhoeae on all genital tract samples received in the microbiology laboratory of Mahosot Hospital (Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos)) was introduced in December 2011; previously, diagnosis of gonorrhoea had relied on microscopy alone
81.0% were from Vientiane Capital, 13.1% were from other provinces and no information about residence was available for 5.9%
Gram-negative diplococci were seen on microscopy in 46 samples (27.9% of culture-positive samples), of which all but one grew N. gonorrhoeae (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

There are limited data on the antimicrobial susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos). This is largely because there are very few diagnostic microbiology laboratories in the country. Previous reports based on relatively small numbers of isolates have suggested high rates of antibiotic resistance in Lao isolates of N. gonorrhoeae [2,3,4,5,21], comparable with resistance rates in the neighbouring countries of Thailand [6], Vietnam [7], Myanmar [8] and southern China [9].

Objectives

Results

Conclusion