Antibiotic-Resistant Gonorrhoea Cases Continue to Rise in England, Health Officials Warn

Ceftriaxone-resistant and extensively drug-resistant strains are increasing, with 17 cases reported since January 2024, raising concerns about potential treatment challenges.

• England has reported 17 cases of ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhoea between January 2024 and March 2025, including four cases in 2025 so far.
• Nine extensively drug-resistant (XDR) gonorrhoea cases, which do not respond to ceftriaxone or second-line treatments, have been identified during the same period.
• Most drug-resistant cases are linked to travel to the Asia-Pacific region, where resistance is more common, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
• Health officials emphasize prevention through condom use and regular STI testing, as untreated gonorrhoea can lead to severe complications like pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and infertility.
• Provisional data highlights a continued rise in gonorrhoea infections in England, with over 54,000 cases recorded in the first nine months of 2024 compared to 85,000 in all of 2023.

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