GRASP: The Gonococcal Resistance to Antimicrobials Surveillance Programme

• Antimicrobial Prescribing Policy 
• Previous Publications 
• GRASP: Methods

Overview

N. gonorrhoeae infection can be easily treated with appropriate antimicrobials. Antimicrobial treatment should be expected to eradicate 95% of uncomplicated gonococcal infections within the community. However, the effective treatment of gonorrhoea has been complicated by the ability of N. gonorrhoeae to develop resistance to antimicrobial agents. In the presence of resistance to first line antimicrobials and possible treatment failure, the likelihood of onward transmission of the organism within the community and development of adverse clinical sequelae in the infected individual are substantially increased.

The annual GRASP collection combines laboratory and clinical data on gonococcal isolates diagnosed in sentinel laboratories. From 2001 the annual GRASP collection has consisted of 26 collaborating GUM clinics covered by 24 laboratories.

See further details on the structure and process of GRASP.

Current Antimicrobial Prescribing Policy

Therapy for gonorrhoea is often given before the susceptibility of the infecting organism is known, and GRASP has both informed and recommended changes to national guidelines to ensure that more the 95% of infections respond to first-line therapy. Current treatment-guidelines recommend a cephalosporin: Ceftriaxone 500mg IM as a single dose with Azithromycin 1g oral as a single dose  and Cefixime 400mg oral as a single dose as an alternative if an intramuscular injection is contra-indicated or refused by the patient . Fluoroquinolones such as ciprofloxacin or ofloxacin are no longer recommended as first-line therapies for gonococcal infections.

Treatment Guidelines

National Guideline on theManagement of Gonorrhoea in Adults 2011 Commissioned by: Clinical Effectiveness Group, BASHH (British Association for Sexual Health and HIV).

What's New

• GRASP 2010 Report: The Gonococcal Resistance to Antimicrobials Surveillance Programme
• Estimating the prevalence of gonococcal resistance to antimicrobials in England and Wales
• Emergence of a Neisseria gonorrhoeae clone showing decreased susceptibility to cefixime in England and Wales
• Dr Catherine Lowndes Update from the Health Protection Agency: Update on resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to antimicrobials GC IUSTI 28 03.11 (PDF, 49 KB)

GRASP Previous Publications

Click here for previous publications. 

GRASP Collaborators Meeting Presentations

• Emergence and mechanisms of resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae: global perspective. Magnus Unemo, Örebro University, Sweden (PDF, 1.6 MB)
• ePN (Electronic Partner Notification). Ann Sullivan, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital (PDF, 1.2 MB)
• Euro-GASP: Development of antimicrobial surveillance for Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Europe. Michelle Cole (PDF, 699 KB)
• The eSTI2 (electronic self-testing for STIs) consortium: potential for collaboration with GUMNet. Tariq Sadiq, St. George’s Hospital Medical School (PDF, 1.4 MB)
• Summary of PrEP trials. David Dunn (PDF, 361 KB)
• Update on GUMNet. Emma Savage (PDF, 111 KB)
• Antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae: a National perspective. Catherine Ison (PDF, 216 KB)
• Redevelopment of the unlinked anonymous HIV prevalence survey (GUMAnon). Louise Logan (PDF, 310 KB) 
• GRASP 2010 Results. Catherine Lowndes (PDF, 246 KB) 
• Audit of HIV testing frequency and behavioural interventions for men having sex with men – Monica Desai (PDF, 47 KB)
•  The Use of External Quality Assurance in Euro-GASP - GRASP collaborators meeting - Nerteley Quaye (PDF, 465 KB) 
•  Risk assessment tool - GUMNet 20July v2 (PDF, 54 KB)

 

• Gonococcal Resistance to Antimicrobials Surveillance Programme (GRASP)
  Added/updated: 8 March 2010
  
• GRASP Previous Publications
  Added/updated: 24 October 2011