European Gonococcal Antimicrobial Susceptibility Programme (Euro-GASP) has been monitoring the antimicrobial susceptibility in Neisseria gonorrhoeae since 2004. Its EQA scheme is necessary for the quality assurance that the laboratory provides in the N. gonorrhoeae antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Participants in this program undergo a 10-year EQA to evaluate N. gonorrhoeae's antimicrobial susceptibility.
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Article Ten years of external quality assessment (EQA) of Neisseria ...
According to the journal, the European Gonococcal Antimicrobial Susceptibility Programme (Euro-GASP) has been monitoring the antimicrobial susceptibility in Neisseria gonorrhoeae since 2004. Isolates are tested either centrally or via a decentralized testing model where antimicrobial susceptibility testing is performed in laboratories in participating countries after fulfilling set quality criteria. Furthermore, successful performance in the EQA is one of the quality criteria (introduced in 2010) required for Euro-GASP to include susceptibility data generated by laboratories performing decentralized testing.
Before the first sentinel susceptibility study in 2004 the first Euro-GASP EQA gonococcal strain panel was provided to the newly established Euro-GASP network in 2003. The findings revealed a need for more standardization of the susceptibility testing methodologies used in Europe and a general susceptibility category agreement of just 70%. As a part of the European Surveillance of Sexually Transmitted Infections (ESSTI) program, the Euro-GASP EQA scheme was revived in 2007 and ran until 2009. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has overseen the EQA since 2010.
By assessing the effectiveness of the Euro-GASP EQA over a 10-year period (2007 to 2016) and contrasting the results of the first five years (2007 to 2011) with those of the subsequent five years (2012 to 2016; no EQA in 2013), Euro-GASP's EQA improved the accuracy of Neisseria gonorrhoeae testing data. This evaluation was done to determine whether Euro-GASP data provide a high-quality and valid picture of gonococcal anti-microbial resistance.
Reference:
Cole, M. J., Quaye, N., Jacobsson, S., Day, M., Fagan, E., Ison, C., Pitt, R., Seaton, S., Woodford, N., Stary, A., Pleininger, S., Crucitti, T., Hunjak, B., Maikanti, P., Hoffmann, S., Viktorova, J., Buder, S., Kohl, P., Tzelepi, E., Siatravani, E., … Unemo, M. (2019). Ten years of external quality assessment (EQA) of Neisseria gonorrhoeae antimicrobial susceptibility testing in Europe elucidate high reliability of data. BMC infectious diseases, 19(1), 281. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-019-3900-z
Euro-GASP's EQA significantly improved Neisseria gonorrhoeae testing accuracy in Europe amidst rising antibiotic resistance. Gonorrhoea, a widespread global STI, can lead to severe complications. Increasing antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae rendered many previous treatments ineffective, emphasizing the need for enhanced antimicrobial susceptibility surveillance.
Quality assurance, including regular EQA, ensures reliable diagnostic and susceptibility data. Euro-GASP, monitoring since 2004, employs EQA to maintain accurate, comparable susceptibility data across labs. Successful EQA participation is required for decentralized labs' data inclusion.
Euro-GASP's EQA identifies and addresses testing issues, aids lab training, and assesses resistance detection abilities. Its history revealed a need for standardized testing methods in Europe, leading to ongoing EQA enhancements since 2010, aligned with ECDC.
Over a decade (2007-2016), Euro-GASP's EQA consistently improved gonococcal antimicrobial resistance data in the EU/EEA. By comparing the initial 5 years (2007–2011) with the latter 5 (2012–2016), it ensured reliable data for evolving antibiotic resistance and changing reporting definitions. Euro-GASP's EQA crucially enhanced Neisseria gonorrhoeae testing data accuracy as resistance patterns evolved.
Reference:
Cole, M.J., Quaye, N., Jacobsson, S. et al. Ten years of external quality assessment (EQA) of Neisseria gonorrhoeae antimicrobial susceptibility testing in Europe elucidate high reliability of data. BMC Infect Dis 19, 281 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-019-3900-z
The first new gonorrhoea antibiotic in decades could address a worrying rise of a drug-resistant form of the bacterium. The disease is often symptomless, and can cause infertility if left untreated. In a trial with 930 participants, the new drug, called zoliflodacin, was as effective and safe as two older drugs in curing infections. Researchers warn that zoliflodacin will have to be used wisely to avoid the bacterium developing resistance to it, too...
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03448-x
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