Introduction Neisseria gonorrhoeae is one of the most important pathogens causing sexually transmitted infection. Resistant N. gonorrhoeae trains against several antimicrobials are increasing worldwide. In this study, the trends of antimicrobial susceptibilities among N. gonorrhoeae strains isolated from male patients with urethritis were investigated as the second Japanese national surveillance, which was conducted by a Japanese surveillance committee.

Methods The targets were male patients older than 16 years with urethral discharge and symptoms of urethritis. Urethral discharge was collected from patients at 26 medical facilities from March 2012 to January 2013 and the antimicrobial susceptibility of strains were tested.

Results From 151 patients (median age 32 years), 103 N. gonorrhoeae strains were tested for susceptibility to 20 antimicrobial agents. None was susceptible to penicillin G (MIC: ≤0.06 μg/mL). The prevalence of penicillinase producing N. gonorrhoeae or chromosomally mediated resistant N. gonorrhoeae was 1.9% or 20.8%, respectively. The susceptible rate for fluoroquinolone such as ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin was 20.3%. The susceptible rate for cefixime was 89.3%, that decreased from 98.8% at 2009. No ceftriaxone-resistant strains founded. The prevalence  of less susceptible strain to ceftriaxone (MIC: 0.125 μg/mL) was 10.7%. No azithromycin high-resistant strain found and 5 strains (4.9%) had MIC ≥0.5 μg/mL. Among all strains, 83 strains (80.6%) were resistant to more than 2 kinds of antimicrobials and 42 strains (40.1%) was included to the criteria as multi-drug resistant N. gonorrhoeae.

Conclusion The antimicrobial susceptibility of N. gonorrhoeae was not different between 2009 and 2012–2013, in Japan.

Disclosure of interest statement Nothing to declare.