Antimicrobial susceptibility/resistance and NG-MAST characterisation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Belarus, Eastern Europe, 2010-2013.

Background: Gonorrhoea and widely spread antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in its etiological agent Neisseria gonorrhoeae are major public health concerns worldwide. Gonococcal AMR surveillance nationally and internationally, to identify emerging resistance and inform treatment guidelines, is imperative for public health purposes. In 2009, AMR surveillance was initiated in Belarus, Eastern Europe because no gonococcal AMR data had been available for at least two decades.

Evolutionary epidemiology of Neisseria meningitidis strains in Belarus compared to other European countries.

Introduction: Meningococcal infections are major causes of death in children globally. In Belarus, the incidence of cases and fatality rate of meningococcal infections are low and comparable to the levels in other European countries.

Aim: In the present study, the molecular and epidemiological traits of Neisseria meningitidis strains circulating in Belarus were characterized and compared to isolates from other European countries.