Rapid Surge in Drug-Resistant Gonorrhoea Stokes WHO Worries

The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised concerns over a rapid global increase in drug-resistant gonorrhoea, warning that the sexually transmitted infection (STI) is becoming increasingly difficult to treat as resistance levels to common antibiotics climb sharply.

According to WHO’s latest data from the Enhanced Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme (EGASP), resistance to key antibiotics, including ceftriaxone and cefixime, has risen significantly over the past few years.

Resistance to ceftriaxone, a mainstay of first-line treatment, increased from approximately 0.8% in 2022 to around 5% in 2024, while cefixime resistance rose from 1.7% to 11%.

Alarmingly, resistance to ciprofloxacin has reached 95% among observed strains.

Gonorrhoea, caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae, is a highly prevalent STI, with WHO estimating around 82 million new cases annually among people aged 15 to 49. The growing resistance means fewer effective treatment options remain, raising the risk of complications such as infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, and chronic inflammation.

As the infection can be asymptomatic—particularly in the throat—it can spread silently, further complicating efforts to control outbreaks.

WHO has called for stronger global surveillance and diagnostic capacity, emphasizing the need for rapid testing to identify which antibiotics are effective against each infection.

The agency also stressed the urgency of developing new treatments and a vaccine to prevent gonorrhoea, noting that drug resistance could soon render existing therapies inadequate.

Countries are being urged to integrate resistance tracking into national STI control programs and to ensure equitable access to effective treatment, particularly in resource-limited settings.

Health experts warn that if unchecked, multi-drug resistant gonorrhoea could evolve into “super gonorrhoea” strains that are extremely difficult or nearly impossible to treat, posing a major public health risk.

WHO underscores that this challenge is part of the broader global threat of antimicrobial resistance, which could lead to higher disease burdens, increased healthcare costs, and more long-term complications worldwide.