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"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.

The UK government on Thursday (8 May) launched a new plan to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a global issue that makes infections difficult or impossible to treat. This is the second phase of a series of 5-year national action plans, aimed at supporting the government's 20-year vision to contain and control AMR by 2040. With the launch of this new national action plan, the UK commits to reducing its use of antimicrobials - such as antibiotics, antifungals and antivirals - in humans and animals. Additionally, it aims to strengthen surveillance of drug-resistant infections before they emerge and incentivise industry to develop the next generation of treatments. There are also plans to expand initiatives such as the world-first 'subscription model' for antimicrobials, launched in 2019 as a pilot.