PASTICCIO—Preventing antimicrobial resistance in sexually transmitted infections
The bacterial pathogens Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae are the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) leading to infertility in women. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 89 million new infections with genital chlamydia and 78 million infections with gonococci occur worldwide every year. In contrast to other European countries, the recording of STIs and the burden of disease caused by STIs in Germany is hampered by two central factors: there is no general screening for STIs in adolescents and young adults, and chlamydia and gonococci are none notifiable diseases. Within the PASTICCIO project, data on STl frequencies, antimicrobial resistances and microbiome changes are collected. The obtained data aim to develop targeted therapy approaches and prevention strategies in order to reduce antibiotic therapies and counteract resistance developments.
The aim of PASTICCIO (Preventing AMR-STls considering concerted intervention options) is to determine the frequency of individual STls, the occurrence of antimicrobial resistances and associated changes in the vaginal microbiome as part of a longitudinal observational study. Samples from young healthy women and women with recurrent bacterial vaginosis and/or diagnosed STI will be tested for the most common STls and extensively molecular testing of microbial composition and the presence of resistance genes.
In addition, data on sexual behaviour and antibiotic therapy are collected. With comprehensive functional microbiome analyses, we are pursuing an innovative approach to the development of targeted therapy approaches and new prevention strategies to reduce antibiotic therapies and thus counteract the increasing antimicrobial resistance especially in Neisseria gonorrhoeae.