The prevalence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae negative for proline iminopeptidase in Asturias, Spain.

Alexander et al 1 have recently reported the prevalence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae negative for proline iminopeptidase (Pip) in England and Wales. This is a considerable problem given that many commercial biochemical test panels (Gonochek II, API NH or RapidID NH) monitor the presence of this enzyme and generate a false-negative identification.1–3 As data are scarce, we present our findings of the past 4 years. A total of 143 isolates from consecutive patients were received during a 4-year period (2003–2006) at the Regional Laboratory for Gonococci, Hospital Monte Naranco, Oviedo, Spain. This unit receives all the isolates of N gonorrhoeae in Asturias, a regional county in the north of Spain with a population of …