Health experts are raising alarms about the increasing resistance of gonorrhoea to antibiotics, warning that the sexually transmitted infection (STI) could become untreatable in the near future.
- Gonorrhoea is showing signs of resistance to multiple antibiotics, making treatment increasingly difficult.
- Untreated gonorrhoea can lead to severe health complications, including infertility.
- The rise in antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea infections is particularly concerning among younger adults.
Gonorrhoea could be untreatable in the near future
According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), there has been a noticeable rise in ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhoea infections, the first-line treatment for the infection.
Between June 2022 and May 2024, 15 cases of ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhoea were reported in England, five of which were extensively drug-resistant.
This alarming trend has led health experts to warn that gonorrhoea could become untreatable if this resistance continues to spread.
Dr Helen Fifer, a consultant microbiologist at UKHSA, explained that untreated gonorrhoea can lead to serious health issues, including pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility.
The best defence against the spread of this infection remains the consistent use of condoms, especially with new or casual partners.
What the stats say about sexually transmitted diseases in South Africa
South Africa is also grappling with high rates of sexually transmitted infections, including gonorrhoea.
In 2017, there were approximately 2.3 million new cases of gonorrhoea among women aged 15 to 49 and 2.2 million new cases among men in the same age group.
The prevalence of other STIs, such as chlamydia and syphilis, further compounds the public health challenge.
These high infection rates are partly due to gaps in prevention and treatment, according to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD).
Many individuals with STIs, such as chlamydia, may not show symptoms and therefore go untreated, increasing the risk of further transmission.
South African health experts have called for improved STI screening, better training for healthcare workers, and more accessible STI detection and treatment services.
However, addressing these issues will require significant financial investment, which is often limited.
