Establishment of a Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme, in Accordance With World Health Organization Standards, in Côte d'Ivoire, Western Africa, 2014-2017.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Neisseria gonorrhoeae is compromising the treatment of gonorrhea globally. Recent AMR data are extremely limited in Africa, and mainly totally lacking in Western Africa, including Côte d'Ivoire. This study (i) established a quality-assured gonococcal antimicrobial surveillance program, according to World Health Organization quality criteria, (ii) investigated the AMR to 8 therapeutic antimicrobials in gonococcal isolates from 2014 to 2017, and (iii) provided evidence for updating the National Sexually Transmitted Disease Syndromic Management Guidelines in Côte d'Ivoire.