Typing of isolates in Shenzhen, China from 2014-2018 reveals the shift of genotypes associated with antimicrobial resistance.

The growing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in is a serious global threat to gonococcal therapy. Molecular typing is an ideal tool to reveal the association between specific genotype and resistance phenotype that provides effective data for tracking the transmission of resistant clones of In our study, we aimed to describe the molecular epidemiology of AMR and the distribution of resistance-associated genotypes in Shenzhen during 2014-2018. In total, 909 isolates were collected from Shenzhen from 2014-2018. Two typing schemes, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and Sequence Typing for Antimicrobial Resistance (NG-STAR), were performed for all isolates. The distribution of resistance-associated genotypes was described using goeBURST analysis combined with data of logistic regression. Among 909 isolates, ST, ST, ST, ST, and ST were most the common MLST sequence types (STs), and ST, ST, ST, and ST were the most prevalent NG-STAR STs. The logistic regression analysis showed that NG-STAR, MLST, and MLST were typically associated with decreased susceptibility to ceftriaxone. Furthermore, the internationally spreading ESC-resistant clone MLST has been prevalent at least in 2014 in Shenzhen and showed a significant increase during 2014-2018. Additionally, MLST owns the potential to become the next internationally spreading ceftriaxone-resistant ST. In conclusions, we performed a comprehensive epidemiological study to explore the correlation between AMR and specific STs, which provided important data for future studies of the molecular epidemiology of AMR in Besides, these findings provide insight for adjusting surveillance strategies and therapy management in Shenzhen.