Prevalence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern of Neisseria Gonorrhoeae from Selected Public Health Centers, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Background: Neisseria gonorrhea (NG) is gram negative diplococcic bacteria that cause most important sexually transmitted infections (STIs) worldwide. In most developing countries including Ethiopia, NG infections are diagnosed syndromically, and its antibiotic susceptibility is rarely tested. Thus, the objective of the present study was to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of N. gonorrhoeae among syndrome diagnosed and treated cases attending selected public health centers, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2019 to March 2020, at selected health centers STIs clinics in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Urethral discharge or vaginal discharge specimens were cultured on Modified Thayer Martín media and suspected gonococcal colonies were confirmed using Oxidase, Superoxol tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) using concentration gradient strips (E-test) of the same antimicrobial agents of ciprofloxacin, penicillin, Ceftriaxone, Azytromicin, Cefoxitin, and Spectinomicin Results: : Among the total 325 NG suspects 163 (50 %) were culture positive. Among the culture positive cases 126 were male and 37 females. Around 4% of isolates are non-susceptible to Ceftriaxone which is the current antimicrobial agent used for urethral discharge/ vaginal discharge syndrome treatment. Conclusion: In the current study, the proportion of N. gonorrhoeae culture positivity rate among male was found to be high. The antimicrobial agent ceftriaxone used for the treatment of gonococccal isolates found to become non susceptible. Antimicrobial agents outside of ciprofloxacin and natural penicillin antimicrobial agents are eligible for the national STI syndromic management.