Abstract: Objective To investigate the prevalence of resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae and plasmid-mediated resistant strains in Guangzhou from 1996 to 2001. Methods The resistant N.gonorrhoeae and plasmid-mediated resistant strains to tetracycline (TRNG) were determined using agardilution method, and penicillinas e-producing N.gonorrhoeae (PPNG) by acidometric method. Results A total of 793 gonococcal isolates were tested from 1996 to 2001. The resistant rate for penicillin increased from 57.2%to 81.8%and PPNG from 2%to 27.2%, respectively, during the six years. Resistance to tetracycline remained high and stable over the years, while the rates of TRNG were increased from 1.5% to 27.2%. Conclusions The prevalence of plasmid-mediated resistant strains of N.gonorrhoeae increases year by year in Guangzhou. These results suggest that the clinical isolates of gonococcal strains in this city are highly resistant to penicillin and tetracyc line.

Key words: Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Drug resistance, microbial, Microbial sensitivity tests