Antibiotic-resistant STIs on the rise in US and Europe

Health experts are raising alarms over the rise of antibiotic-resistant sexually transmitted infections (STIs) globally.

In the United States, Shigella infections—which cause diarrhea and vomiting—are increasingly being transmitted through sexual contact. A CDC analysis of nearly 17,000 isolates showed that strains with extensively drug-resistant (XDR) properties rose from 0% in 2011 to 8.5% in 2023. Molecular biologist Shangxin Jang of UCLA noted that health workers are now recording approximately one case of XDR Shigellosis per month, compared to just one case in the entirety of 2022.

Simultaneously, European health authorities are monitoring a rise in antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae resistant to ceftriaxone, a key treatment antibiotic, are being detected across more European countries. While resistance was previously linked to international travel, recent data from France, Germany, Sweden, and the United Kingdom indicate increased transmission within these regions. Experts warn that because gonorrhea can often be asymptomatic, the spread of resistant strains poses a significant public health challenge.