UK Reports Rising Antibiotic-Resistant Gonorrhoea Despite Overall Case Decline

Health officials in the UK have raised alarms over a significant increase in cases of gonorrhoea resistant to ceftriaxone, the primary antibiotic used to treat the infection. Despite a 16% overall decline in gonorrhoea cases in England in 2024, the number of antibiotic-resistant cases has risen, with 14 ceftriaxone-resistant cases reported in the first five months of 2025 compared to 13 in all of 2024; six of these were extensively drug-resistant, showing resistance to both ceftriaxone and second-line treatments. Most resistant cases are linked to travel to or from the Asia-Pacific region, where such resistance is more prevalent. Alongside gonorrhoea, early-stage syphilis diagnoses increased slightly while chlamydia cases and genital warts diagnoses declined. Experts urge regular STI testing, especially after condomless sex with new or casual partners, and recommend vaccination programs aimed at reducing gonorrhoea infections. The UK Health Security Agency emphasizes that antibiotic-resistant STIs pose a major threat to sexual health and highlight the importance of ongoing surveillance and public health interventions.