BASHH calls for urgent national response to concerning rise in antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea cases in England
31 March 2025
(Last updated: 31 Mar 2025 12:56)
- New UKHSA data shows cases of both ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhoea and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) gonorrhoea strains are being detected more frequently.
- The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommended a targeted roll-out of the 4CmenB vaccine in November 2023. BASHH and community organisations have repeatedly called for the implementation of the recommendation but a policy decision is yet to be made.
- BASHH is urging the government to commit to a sexual health strategy that can support effective action to turn around the trend of rising STIs and the growing threat of treatment-resistant gonorrhoea.
- With over 85,000 gonorrhoea diagnoses reported in England in 2022/23, the highest number since records began in 1918, and significant inequalities in the impact of this and other STIs, the case for action is urgent.
[Thursday 27th March 2025] The British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) is deeply concerned by new data released today by UKHSA detailing a rise in antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea cases across England.
The announcement raises particular concern regarding ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhoea, as the primary antibiotic used to treat gonorrhoea. The UKHSA data shows that 17 cases of ceftriaxone resistant gonorrhoea were reported between January 2024 to 20 March 2025. This compares to 16 across the previous two-year period (January 2022 to December 2023). UKHSA has also released figures detailing that extensively drug-resistant (XDR) cases of gonorrhoea are also on the rise, with 9 cases reported between January 2024 and March 2025, compared to 5 cases in total during the previous two years.
This new data comes against the backdrop of over 85,000 gonorrhoea diagnoses being reported in England in 2022/23, representing the highest number since records began in 1918 and an increase of 7.5% on the previous reporting period.
Responding to the announcement, Professor Matt Phillips, President of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH), said:
“The rise of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea infections in England, including extensively drug-resistant cases, is of concern. Antibiotic resistance represents one of the biggest global public health threats, with sexual health very much on the frontline of this. Today’s data must be a wake-up call about the critical need to address these growing trends whilst there is an opportunity to tackle increase antimicrobial resistance.
A key part of the response should be putting in place the JCVI’s clear recommendations for the targeted roll-out of the ‘4CMenB’ vaccine, which could be a game-changer and dramatically reduce transmission of gonorrhoea. It’s been more than a year since JCVI reported and in the meantime those who would benefit most from this intervention can’t access it. This must be part of a wider, joined-up, strategic response to deepening inequalities in sexual health outcomes. The development of a 10-year plan for the NHS needs to support equitable sexual healthcare for all those who need it now and in the coming years.”
Note to Editors
In November 2024, BASHH, alongside Terrance Higgins Trust, jointly called for the UK Government to ‘turbo-charge’ efforts to reverse record levels of gonorrhoea diagnoses, by implementing the JCVI recommendations for vaccine roll-out. More information can be found here.