Multi-drug resistant gonorrhoea - ISS-G20 Laboratorium Repository

Overview

Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that remains a major public health concern. WHO estimates that in 2020, there were 82.4 million [47.7 million-130.4 million] new cases infected among adolescents and adults aged 15–49 years worldwide, with a global incident rate of 19 (11–29) per 1000 women and 23 (10–43) per 1000 men. Most cases were in the WHO African Region and the Western Pacific Region.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Neisseria gonorrhoeae (N. gonorrhoeae) appeared soon after the antimicrobial medicines started to be used. This has continued to expand over the past 80 years, affecting medicines such as tetracyclines, macrolides (including azithromycin), sulphonamides and trimethoprim combinations and, more recently, quinolones. In many countries, ciprofloxacin resistance is exceedingly high, azithromycin resistance is increasing and resistance or decreased susceptibility to cefixime and ceftriaxone continue to emerge.

The extensively drug-resistant gonorrhoea with high-level resistance to the current recommended treatment for gonorrhoea (ceftriaxone and azithromycin) but also including resistance to penicillin, sulphonamides, tetracycline, fluoroquinolones and macrolides are called gonorrhoea superbugs or super gonorrhoea.

Entire content available on: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/multi-drug-resistant-gonorrhoea