Combatting Antibiotic Resistant Gonorrhea and other STIs (CARGOS) began in 2024 as a component under the CDC’s Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) Grant. The project follows the Strengthening the US Response to Resistant Gonorrhea (SURRG) project that concluded mid-2024. The Colorado CARGOS project is a partnership between Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), the Public Health Institute at Denver Health (PHIDH), formerly Denver Public Health, and Denver Health and Hospital Authority. CARGOS was created as a response to rising antimicrobial resistant gonorrhea (ARGC) with two goals: Monitor trends in antimicrobial susceptibilities of gonorrhea and STIs in the U.S. and Strengthen state and local capacity to rapidly detect and respond to threats of antimicrobial resistance. The project also aims to gain a better understanding of the epidemiological factors contributing to resistant gonorrhea. There are 19 different CARGOS sites and jurisdictions across the US that collect and analyze data. They help guide national recommendations for the public health response to the growing threat of resistant gonorrhea.
CARGOS Contact: Leslie Frank, MPH, Data Analytics, Program Evaluation and SURRG Program Manager, leslie.frank@state.co.us