Large increase in ciprofloxacin resistant gonorrhoea in England and Wales

Preliminary results from the 2002 collection of the Gonococcal Resistance to Antimicrobials Surveillance Programme (GRASP) (1, 2) show marked increases in resistance to ciprofloxacin in England and Wales. Between June and August 2002, consecutive gonococcal isolates from 26 genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics were systematically tested for antimicrobial susceptibility at one of two central reference laboratories. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of five antimicrobials were determined, including ciprofloxacin (range tested 0.002-0.125 mg/l,) extended to 32 mg/l as necessary). Clinical, demographic, and behavioural data were obtained for each patient included in the collection.