Cases of Neisseria gonorrhoeae with plasmid-mediated resistance to penicillin increase. The National Study Group.

Penicillinase-producing isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG) were submitted to the National Laboratory for Sexually Transmitted Diseases for biological and genetic identification as part of an on-going national surveillance program for monitoring antibiotic-resistant gonococci. The primary identification of the isolates was completed in provincial laboratories. The isolates were documented and forwarded to LCDC through the provincial laboratories and provincial epidemiologists. Duplicate isolates from the same patient were excluded from the final analysis; retrospective clinical and epidemiological data were collected for each case. In those cases where PPNG isolates were not available for testing at LCDC, epidemiological and clinical data were included for statistical consideration. These data were collectively analyzed using computer programs developed within the National Laboratory for Sexually Transmitted Diseases.