Global, regional and local surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Monica M. Lahra A B * , C. Robert R. George C and Sebastiaan J. van Hal D EA
B
C
D
E
Prof. Monica Lahra is a senior staff specialist in microbiology at New South Wales Health Pathology (NSWHP) at the Prince of Wales Hospital, and a conjoint professor at the University of New South Wales. She is the Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Sexually Transmitted Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance (WHO CC for STI and AMR), based at NSWHP in Randwick. She leads a team responsible for surveillance of pathogenic Neisseria species nationally and internationally and works with the WHO and partner WHO Collaborating Centres on the Enhanced Gonococcal Surveillance Programme (EGASP). |
Dr Robert George is a senior staff specialist in microbiology at NSWHP at the John Hunter Hospital, NSW. He has worked with the WHO CC for STI and AMR and with the WHO Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Network on a project mapping stakeholders and activities focusing on AMR and antimicrobial use (AMU) surveillance. He completed a PhD at The University of Queensland, where he worked on spatial modelling and, in 2017, was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to investigate keystone AMR surveillance initiatives of benefit to Australia. |
Prof. Sebastiaan van Hal is a senior staff specialist in infectious diseases and microbiology at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH), and a clinical professor at the University of Sydney. He is the current NSWHP microbiology clinical stream lead and is on the executive of Australian Group of Antimicrobial Resistance. He has been instrumental in setting up a National Association of Testing Authorities-accredited pathogen genomics service at RPAH and is the current chair of the Pathogen Genomics Committee. |
Abstract
Neisseria gonorrhoeae disease control strategies rely almost entirely on effective antibiotic treatment. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) makes the future of gonococcal treatment uncertain. With the rapid evolution of gonococcal AMR, and a largely unmapped AMR landscape globally, it is very evident why concerns have been raised at the highest level. Urgent actions have been undertaken for better surveillance, new treatments and improved prevention. Most critical, however, is the need for a vaccine for disease prevention and control.
Keywords: AMR, antimicrobial resistance, ceftriaxone, extended-spectrum cephalosporin, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, surveillance.
Prof. Monica Lahra is a senior staff specialist in microbiology at New South Wales Health Pathology (NSWHP) at the Prince of Wales Hospital, and a conjoint professor at the University of New South Wales. She is the Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Sexually Transmitted Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance (WHO CC for STI and AMR), based at NSWHP in Randwick. She leads a team responsible for surveillance of pathogenic Neisseria species nationally and internationally and works with the WHO and partner WHO Collaborating Centres on the Enhanced Gonococcal Surveillance Programme (EGASP). |
Dr Robert George is a senior staff specialist in microbiology at NSWHP at the John Hunter Hospital, NSW. He has worked with the WHO CC for STI and AMR and with the WHO Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Network on a project mapping stakeholders and activities focusing on AMR and antimicrobial use (AMU) surveillance. He completed a PhD at The University of Queensland, where he worked on spatial modelling and, in 2017, was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to investigate keystone AMR surveillance initiatives of benefit to Australia. |
Prof. Sebastiaan van Hal is a senior staff specialist in infectious diseases and microbiology at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH), and a clinical professor at the University of Sydney. He is the current NSWHP microbiology clinical stream lead and is on the executive of Australian Group of Antimicrobial Resistance. He has been instrumental in setting up a National Association of Testing Authorities-accredited pathogen genomics service at RPAH and is the current chair of the Pathogen Genomics Committee. |
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