Getting to grips with GRASP
The latest (2006) annual report from GRASP, the Gonococcal Resistance to Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme, is available via the Health Protection Agency website.
The report shows 1,313 confirmed isolates for neisseria gonorrhoea between 2005 and 2006, compared to last year’s report of 1,030 confirmed cases between 2004 and 2005.
There was an increase in resistance to ciprofloxacin to 26.5% in 2006 from 21.7% in 2005. Ciprofloxacin resistance increased in heterosexual men to 18.7% (up from 11.8% ), women to 7.5% (up from 6.3%) and MSM rising to 43.3% (up from 42.4%).
Penicillin resistance reduced to 9.5% in 2006 from 17.5.% in 2005, Azithromycin resistance was two% and no resistance to spectinomycin, ceftriaxone or cefixime was found.*
This report is definitely worth further reading and gives information on the incidence of gonococcal infection throughout England and Wales, demographics and behaviour.
* GRASP Steering Group (2007) The Gonococcal Resistance to Antimicrobials Surveillance Programme (GRASP) year 2006 report, London: Health Protection Agency.
Sue Everitt