Surveillance for Neisseria Gonorrhoeae Antibiotic Resistance: Successes of the Past, Challenges of the Present, and Opportunities for the Future

The treatment of gonorrhea has been complicated by the ability of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to readily develop antimicrobial resistance (AMR); during the past sixty years, N. gonorrhoeae developed resistance to each antibiotic recommended for treatment.  Dwindling treatment options and the anticipated emergence of cephalosporin-resistant N. gonorrhoeae reinforce the need for continued surveillance of gonococcal antibiotic susceptibility.  Antibiotic susceptibility testing relies on culture specimens; widespread use of nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) and declining culture capacity complicate surveillance efforts.  This presentation will describe the Gonococcal Isolate Surveillance Project (GISP) and current surveillance approaches, the challenges of conducting surveillance for gonococcal AMR, and possible future directions.