Enhanced Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme (EGASP): supplementary protocols

Overview

Widespread antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in highly variable strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae continues to cause significant public health concerns and compromise the management and control of gonorrhoea. The Enhanced Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme (EGASP) aims to strengthen sentinel surveillance for gonococcal AMR in selected countries.

Data and country experiences from EGASP implementation have shown a need to develop 3 essential supplementary protocols that play pivotal roles in the management of N. gonorrhoeae infections. These protocols are:

• Treatment failure protocol;
• extragenital sampling protocol; and
• whole genome sequencing (WGS) framework.

By mastering these protocols, health workers, researchers and public health officials can contribute to a more effective and informed approach to combat N. gonorrhoeae infections.