Antibiotic-Resistant Gonorrhea

The emergence of multidrug- and cephalosporin-resistant gonorrhea in the United States would make gonorrhea much more difficult to treat.

Gonorrhea has progressively developed resistance to the antibiotic drugs prescribed to treat it. Following the spread of gonococcal fluoroquinolone resistance, the cephalosporin antibiotics have been the foundation of recommended treatment for gonorrhea. The emergence of cephalosporin-resistant gonorrhea would significantly complicate the ability of providers to treat gonorrhea successfully, since we have few antibiotic options left that are simple, well-studied, well-tolerated and highly effective. It is critical to continuously monitor antibiotic resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae and encourage research and development of new treatment regimens.

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Data, trends, challenges, and lab information

Updates

2015 STD Treatment Guidelines - Gonococcal Infections (June 4, 2015)

Gonococcal Isolate Surveillance Project (GISP) Profiles 2013 (March 30, 2015)

Genomic sequencing of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to respond to the urgent threat of antimicrobial-resistant gonorrhea – an Advanced Molecular Detection (AMD) project (October 22, 2014)

Recommendations for the Laboratory-Based Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae — 2014 (March 14, 2014)

Kirkcaldy RD, Kidd S, Papp J, Weinstock HS, Bolan GA. Trends in antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the United States—the Gonococcal Isolate Surveillance Project (GISP), January 2006–June 2012. Sexually Transmitted Infections 2013; 8(Suppl 4): iv5–iv10. Abstract

Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States 2013 - CDC report outlines core actions to halt drug resistance. (September 16, 2013)