Antibiotic-Resistant Gonorrhoea Surge in England: UKHSA Urges Regular STI Testing - 0 views
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pharmacybiz on 20 Aug 24"Gonorrhoea is becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics, risking the possibility of it becoming untreatable in the future," Dr Helen Fifer, Consultant Microbiologist at UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has warned. Dr Fifer highlighted that untreated gonorrhoea can lead to serious health issues, including pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility. New data from the UKHSA revealed that between June 2022 and May 2024, 15 ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhoea cases were detected in England. Ceftriaxone is the 'first line' antibiotic used to treat gonorrhoea in the UK, and resistance to this drug can complicate treatment, especially for infections in the throat. Among these cases, five were identified as extensively drug-resistant, meaning they were resistant to both first- and second-line treatment options and other antibiotics. A total of 31 ceftriaxone-resistant cases have been recorded since the first case was detected in England in 2015.