Data from: Azithromycin-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates in Guangzhou, China (2009–2013): coevolution with decreased susceptibilities to ceftriaxone and genetic characteristics

Background: The recent emergence of azithromycin-resistant (AZM-R) N. gonorrhoeae isolates that have coevolved decreased susceptibility to extended-spectrum cephalosporins has caused great concern. Here we investigated the prevalence of decreased susceptibility to ceftriaxone (CROD) in AZM-R isolates and genetically characterized AZM-R isolates in Guangzhou, China from 2009 to 2013. Methods: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of AZM and ceftriaxone was determined using an agar-dilution method. All AZM-R isolates were screened for mutations in 23S rRNA, mtrR and penA genes and genotyped using N. gonorrhoeae multi-antigen sequence typing (NG-MAST). Results: Of the 485 identified N. gonorrhoeae isolates, 445 (91.8%) were isolated from male urethritis subjects, and 77 (15.9%) were AZM-R (MIC ≥ 1 mg/L), including 33 (6.8%) with AZM low-level resistant (AZM-LLR, MIC = 1 mg/L) and 44 (9.1%) with AZM middle-level resistant (AZM-MLR, MIC ≥ 2 mg/L). Significantly more CROD (MIC ≥ 0.125 mg/L) showed in AZM-MLR isolates (43.2%, 19/44) as compared with that in AZM-LLR isolates (18.2%, 6/33) (p 0.05); similar results were detected between combined AZM-LLR/CROD isolates and combined AZM-MLR/CROD isolates (P > 0.05). No mutation A2059G or AZM high-level resistant (AZM-HLR, MIC ≥ 256 mg/L) isolate was detected. Among 77 AZM-R isolates, 67 sequence types (STs) were identified by NG-MAST, of which 30 were novel. Most STs were represented by a single isolate. Conclusions: The AZM-R together CROD isolates are now present in Guangzhou, China, which deserve continuous surveillance and the mechanism of concurrent resistance needs further study.The sequencing data of porB, tbpB, 23S rRNA, mtrR and penA genesThe sequencing data of porB, tbpB, 23S rRNA, mtrR and penA genes in Neisseria gonorrhoea