Genetic relatedness of ceftriaxone-resistant and high-level azithromycin resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae cases, United Kingdom and Australia, February to April 2018

Between February and April 2018, Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) isolates displaying ceftriaxone resistance and high-level azithromycin resistance were independently reported from both the United Kingdom (UK) (one case) and Australia (two cases) [1,2]. Here, genomic analysis is used to demonstrate that these cases were caused by a single clone of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) NG. This study has demonstrated that a single XDR clone, with epidemiological links to Asia, has been successfully transmitted on least three independent occasions and may be still circulating, which is of global public health significance.

Article: Eurosurveillance