Alterations within the quinolone resistance-determining regions of GyrA and ParC of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated in the Far East and the United States.

The genetic mutations within the quinolone resistance-determining regions (QRDRs) of gyrA and parC of 234 Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains isolated in the Far East and the United States, which exhibited either clinically significant ciprofloxacin resistance (CipR) or intermediate ciprofloxacin resistance (CipI) were characterized. A number of GyrA/ParC amino acid alteration patterns were identified, the most prevalent alteration pattern among CipR isolates being GyrA-91,95/ParC-Asp-86- > Asn (91,95/Asp-86- > Asn). Isolates containing 91,95/Asp-86- > Asn belonged to a number of A/S classes, penicillin/tetracycline resistance phenotypes, and plasmid profiles.

Correlates of gonococcal infection and of antimicrobial-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae among female sex workers, Republic of the Philippines, 1996-1997.

From 1994 to 1997, the proportion of Neisseria gonorrhoeae highly resistant to ciprofloxacin (MIC >/=4 microg/mL) increased substantially among female sex workers (FSWs) in the Philippines. Among 1499 Filipina FSWs, we evaluated factors associated with gonococcal infection and with gonococcal antimicrobial resistance. By multivariate analysis, gonococcal infection was associated with sex with a new client, self-prescribed prophylactic antimicrobial use, work in a brothel, and inconsistent condom use and was negatively associated with registration status and vaginal hygiene practices.

Genetic subtypes of HIV-1 in the Philippines.

Objectives: To determine the genetic variability of HIV-1 amongst infected Filipinos and to analyze phylogenetic relationships, temporal introductions and transmission dynamics of identified variants.

Methods: Polymerase chain reaction amplification and direct sequencing of a 204 base-pair fragment of the env C2-V3 region from uncultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from 51 HIV-1-positive Filipinos infected from 1987 to mid-1996. Evolutionary distance and phylogenetic relationships among the DNA sequences were estimated.

Results of a model AIDS prevention program for high school students in the Philippines.

Objectives: To describe the sexual practices of high school students; to describe the process of development of a school-based AIDS prevention program; and to evaluate the effect of this program on students' AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes and AIDS-preventive behaviors.

Subjects And Methods: A cluster-randomized, controlled trial with pretest/post-test evaluation was conducted in four demographically similar public high schools in a semi-urban district of Metro Manila, the Philippines. Of 845 high school students who participated in the baseline survey, 804 (95%) completed a postintervention questionnaire.