Whole genome sequencing reveals transmission of gonococcal antibiotic resistance among men who have sex with men: an observational study

Drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae are now a global public health threat. Direct transmission of antibiotic-resistant gonococci between individuals has been proposed as a driver for the increased transmission of resistance, but direct evidence of such transmission is limited. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) has superior resolution to investigate outbreaks and disease transmission compared to traditional molecular typing methods such as MLST and NG-MAST. We therefore aimed to systematically investigate the transmission of N. gonorrhoeae between men in sexual partnerships using WGS to compare isolates and their resistance to antibiotics at a genome level.