The Journal of Medical Microbiology, Vol 30, Issue 4 239-244, Copyright © 1989 by Society for General Microbiology
Changes in penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated in London
C. A. Ison and C. S. Easmon
Department of Medical Microbiology, St Mary's Hospital Medical School, Paddington, London.
To investigate changes in the gonococcal population over time, the plasmid
content, serotype and auxotype have been determined for strains of
penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG) isolated from patients
attending the Praed Street Clinic for Sexually Transmitted Diseases between
1978 and 1987. Three distinct changes have been identified: (i) in the main
plasmid type, from PPNG with the 3.2-Mda plasmid before 1982 to strains
with the 4.4-Mda plasmid between 1982 and 1985; (ii) the decline during
this time of strains also carrying the 24.5-Mda conjugal plasmid; (iii) the
re-emergence of PPNG with the 3.2-Mda plasmid in 1986. The three typing
methods used have identified eight clusters of strains which have been
prevalent in different years between 1978 and 1987.
