Laboratory Report - Antibiogram and Plasmid Profiles of Neisseriagonorrhoeae Isolates from Cameroon: Useful Tools for Epidemiological Survey

Abstract

A prospective laboratory-based investigative study was carried out on clinical isolates of N. gonorrhoeato determine their antibiotic susceptibility patterns and plasmid profile using standard microbiological and molecular techniques. All the 32 isolates studied showed total resistance to penicillin, spectinomycin and amoxycilin. On the other hand, susceptibilities of 100%, 98.6% and 98.6% were noted for ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and norfloxacin respectively. Thirty (93.8%) of the 32 isolates were found to harbour plasmids of molecular weights ranging from 9.2 to 25.2Mdal. Three distinct groups of N. gonorrhoeaisolates were identified based on the molecular weights of the plasmids, namely, group one (9.2Mdal), group two (12.6Mdal) and group three (25.2Mdal). These results suggest that different strains of N. gonorrhoeamay be circulating in Fako Division of Cameroon, a finding that is of clinical and epidemiological significance. (Afr J Reprod Health 2003; 7[2]: 100-105)

Keywords: Neisseria gonorrhea, antibiogram, plasmid profile, Cameroons