GRASP 2008 Report: Trends in Antimicrobial Resistant Gonorrhoea

Synopsis

• Resistance to third-generation cephalosporins, the current recommended first-line treatment for gonorrhoea, is emerging in England and Wales, and the first examples of reduced susceptibility to ceftriaxone were observed in 2008.
• An apparent outbreak of high-level resistance to penicillin and tetracycline associated with sexual contact abroad emerged in 2007 and is ongoing in 2008.
• Ciprofloxacin resistance is now endemic in England and Wales, accounting for 28% of all isolates tested in 2008.
• Treatment of gonorrhoea is likely to become increasingly problematic as new types of resistance emerge.

Additional information

• GRASP 2008 Slide Set (PowerPoint Presentation, 1.4 MB)
• GRASP: The Gonococcal Resistance to Antimicrobials Surveillance Programme

Last reviewed: 14 August 2009