The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned antibiotic resistance is making gonorrhea harder to treat, suggesting a heightened need to develop new antibiotics. It brought together data from 77 countries around the world, which revealed the common sexually transmitted disease (STD) is increasingly difficult, and in some cases impossible, to treat. 

There are approximately 820,000 new gonococcal infections in the US each year, according to figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with an estimated 570,000 of these in young people between 15 and 24 years of age. Left untreated, the STD can cause serious and permanent problems in both male and female patients, but it is considered particularly dangerous for women. 

Currently, the CDC recommends dual therapy to treat the condition. This involves prescribing two antimicrobials to patients, each with a different mechanism of action - for example cephalosporin and azithromycin - in the hope this will slow the emergence of resistance to antibiotics.  Drugs commonly used to treat the condition include Rocephin (ceftriaxone), Zithromax (azithromycin) and Supra (cefixime).

Figures from the WHO Global Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme found a significant proportion of countries reported drug-resistant strains of gonorrhea. Almost all (97 percent) found resistance to ciprofloxacin, while azithromycin-resistant strains were found in 81 percent of countries. Furthermore, two thirds reported significant resistance to the extended-spectrum cephalosporins (ESCs) oral cefixime or injectable ceftriaxone.

Commenting on the recent findings, Marc Sprenger, MD, director of antimicrobial resistance at WHO, said, "We need new antibiotics, as well as rapid, accurate, point-of-care diagnostic tests, ideally, ones that can predict which antibiotics will work on that particular infection, and longer term, a vaccine to prevent gonorrhea."

However, the WHO noted few new drugs are in the research and development pipeline for treating gonorrhea. Among those that may eventually be available in pharmacies are Cempra's solithromycin, AdisInsight's zoliflodacin, and gepotidacin, but these are still in the trial phase of development.

Safer sexual practices can help prevent gonorrhea, particularly proper condom use. The WHO also asserted that information, education and communication are important in minimizing instances of the condition. It suggested working to remove the barriers and stigmas surrounding STDs may also be beneficial in promoting safer sexual practices.