No way back for quinolones in the treatment of gonorrhoea.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the changing prevalence of quinolone resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae (QRNG) over 3 years following implementation of cephalosporin treatment (for gonorrhoea).

METHODS

Case review of all episodes of gonorrhoea diagnosed in the genitourinary medicine clinic in Nottingham during the first 6 months of each year between 2002 and 2005.

RESULTS

The prevalence of QRNG peaked at 52.5% in January 2002. Three years after third generation cephalosporins were implemented for the treatment of gonorrhoea, QRNG persists in the local population with a prevalence of 9.1% over the first half of 2005.

CONCLUSIONS

The persistence of QRNG at a prevalence exceeding 5% precludes a return to quinolones for the treatment of gonorrhoea. The significant reduction in all cases of gonorrhoea identified over the same time is unlikely to be related to the change to treatment with cephalosporins.