Vibrio cholerae antimicrobial drug resistance, Papua New Guinea, 2009-2011.

WPSAR Vol 4, No 3, 2013 | doi: 10.5365/wpsar.2013.4.2.002 www.wpro.who.int/wpsar 1 a World Health Organization, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. b Pathology Department, Port Moresby General Hospital, Papua New Guinea. c National Department of Health, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. Submitted: 10 April 2013; Published: 2 September 2013 doi: 10.5365/wpsar.2013.4.2.002 Cholera is an acute infectious disease caused by Vibrio cholerae. The disease occurs in a variety of forms ranging from sporadic cases to outbreaks that may transition to endemic disease. While cholera case management focuses on early, rapid rehydration, antimicrobial therapy can reduce the volume of diarrhoea, duration of carriage and symptoms and is frequently recommended for patients with severe dehydration.1–4 For this reason, antibiotics are often indicated for the management of moderate and severe cholera case patients. The current World Health Organization and Médecins Sans Frontières guidelines for cholera treatment recommend antibiotics for only severe cases, whereas the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) recommends antibiotics for both severe and moderate cases.5,6