Antibiotic-Resistant Gonorrhoea Is On The Rise
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Antibiotic-Resistant Gonorrhoea Is On The Rise

Health officials in Europe issued a warning over the possibility of fewer treatment choices for gonorrhoea due to an increase in drug resistance.

 

Sexually transmitted diarrhea (STD) is a bacterial infection that frequently shows no symptoms. It can lead to major issues including infertility or pelvic inflammatory disease if left untreated.

 

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) issued a warning in a new surveillance report for 2022 that two isolates of the sexually transmitted disease (STD) were resistant to ceftriaxone, a common drug used to treat it.

 

In 2022, 23 European countries' about 4,400 isolates of gonorrhoea were sent to a surveillance program. Between 2021 and 2022, the percentage of isolates resistant to azithromycin, a different antibiotic, rose from 14% to over 26%.

 

This may make treatment choices more difficult because, according to the health department, this medication is usually taken in addition to ceftriaxone to treat gonorrhea. Additionally, the percentage of gonorrhoea isolates resistant to the drug ciprofloxacin rose from 63% in 2021 to 66% in 2022.

 

The ECDC stated in a statement on Monday that "the rise in resistant strains can compromise the effectiveness of existing treatment options, posing a significant public health challenge until new therapeutic options are available."

 

"Continuous monitoring is crucial, especially since gonococcal strains resistant to cefixime and ceftriaxone are spreading internationally, even though resistance to [the antibiotic] cefixime remains low at 0.3%," the agency stated.

 

They suggested more monitoring, recurring evaluations of treatment protocols, and initiatives to prevent harm.

 

Increased Rates of STDs Following The Pandemic

Worldwide, gonorrhoea has grown more resistant to drugs, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO).

 

The WHO has said that numerous nations have reported that ceftriaxone, either by itself or in combination with other antibiotics, has not been able to treat the disease. Early in the year, the ECDC issued a warning about alarming increases in STIs (sexually transmitted illnesses) throughout Europe.

 

In 2022, there were over 70,800 cases of gonorrhea in 28 EU/EEA countries, a 48% rise from the year before. In 2022, there was a 34% increase in syphilis infections and a 16% increase in chlamydia cases over the previous year.

 

Experts stated in March that changes in sexual behavior following the COVID-19 epidemic may be connected to the increase in incidence. They stated that a resurgence might have also resulted from fewer examinations and treatments given during the pandemic.

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Rich Health News Desk

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