Rise of antibiotic-resistant STIs

Health authorities in the United States, Europe, and the United Kingdom are reporting an increase in antibiotic-resistant sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

In the United States, CDC analysis indicates that extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Shigella strains 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, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is monitoring antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea, specifically strains resistant to ceftriaxone, with increased transmission detected in France, Germany, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

In England, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported that sexually transmitted Shigella cases rose from 2,052 in 2023 to 2,560 in 2025. Because Shigella symptoms—such as diarrhea and abdominal cramps—are often mistaken for food poisoning, and because resistant strains make treatment difficult, experts recommend hygiene measures and avoiding sexual contact for at least seven days after symptoms disappear.