Alongside growing evidence of the domestic spread of such resistant strains in Europe over the past two years, this poses a significant challenge for future treatment options for one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases worldwide, according to an assessment issued by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
Local transmission of ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhea in Europe is a warning sign we should not ignore, says Csaba Ködmön, an ECDC microbiology expert.
While the risk to the general population is currently low, growing resistance reduces the effectiveness of the treatments we rely on today. If highly drug-resistant strains become established and continue to spread, treatment options could become increasingly limited.
Strengthening prevention, expanding antimicrobial testing and promoting timely diagnosis are therefore essential to detect resistant strains early, limit further spread and keep gonorrhea treatable.
An ECDC risk assessment analyzes the surge in ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhea infections across Europe since 2022, as well as related risks for sexually active people, based on reports from 11 European countries.
