Antibiotic-Resistant Gonorrhea

'Basic Information' graphic stating, 'Little now stands between us and untreatable gonorrhea'.

'Laboratory Information' graphic showing how resistance is going up while new drugs are declining.

'Combating the Threat' graphic showing illustration of a man taking medication.

Gonorrhea has progressively developed resistance to the antibiotic drugs prescribed to treat it. Following the spread of gonococcal fluoroquinolone resistance, the cephalosporin antibiotics have been the foundation of recommended treatment for gonorrhea. The emergence of cephalosporin-resistant gonorrhea would significantly complicate the ability of providers to treat gonorrhea successfully, since we have few antibiotic options left that are simple, well-studied, well-tolerated and highly effective. It is critical to continuously monitor antibiotic resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae and encourage research and development of new treatment regimens.

Updates

Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States 2019 and Drug-resistant N. gonorrhoeae pathogen pagepdf icon (November 13, 2019)

Gonococcal Isolate Surveillance Project (GISP) Profiles 2017 (April 2019)

AR Investment Map This interactive tool shows CDC’s key investments to combat antibiotic resistance (AR), including drug-resistant gonorrhea, across the nation.

Success Stories

Decoding DNA to Outsmart Gonorrhea: Modern Technology Takes on Centuries-Old Bug

Researchers in CDC’s Division of STD Prevention laboratory have developed a freely-accessible analysis tool to help all public health labs identify genes involved in drug-resistant gonorrhea.

Battling Antibiotic-Resistant Gonorrhea: A Timeline of Coordinated Teamwork

Disease Intervention Specialists, STD clinic staff, and lab staff in Hawaii work together to identify and treat possible cases of drug-resistant gonorrhea.