Epidemiology of PPNG infections in the Netherlands: analysis by auxanographic typing and plasmid identification.

We carried out auxanographic typing and plasmid identification on 1380 isolates of penicillinase producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG) isolated in the Netherlands in 1982 and found four plasmid patterns and 24 auxotypes with noticeable local or regional variations. Among 756 strains harbouring the 3 X 2 megadalton (Mdal) resistance plasmid ("African" type), with or without the 24 Mdal transfer plasmid, 667 (88%) were non-requiring and inhibited by phenylalanine. This type was endemic in most of the cities or regions we studied. Twenty methionine requiring PPNG strains were found, all harbouri... Mehr ...