Low-level gentamicin resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae

The continued emergence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates resistant to first-line antibiotics has re-invigorated interest in alternative therapies such as expanded use of gentamicin (Gen). We hypothesized that expanded use of Gen may promote emergence of gonococci with clinical resistance to this aminoglycoside. To understand how decreased susceptibility of gonococci to Gen might develop, we selected and characterized spontaneous Gen-resistant (GenR) mutants of Gen-sensitive strain FA19.