There is a worrying increase in bacteria that resist them antibiotics exposing patients to serious health risks. In recent times, throughout the entire European continent, there has been an alarming fact regarding the so-called “super gonorrhea“, a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Globally, it is the second most widespread bacterial STI after STI chlamydia. Cases of the disease are growing at a significant rate and it is becoming increasingly difficult to treat them with traditional antibiotic therapy.
The need for constant monitoring
The news was made known by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) which wrote a detailed report on the subject. Based on the latest data from the European Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Program (Euro-Gasp), ECDC underlines the fundamental need for a continuous monitoring to update treatment guidelines and control measures, and ensure prudent use of drugs in a context of record numbers. “In 2022 – says the Center – 70,881 confirmed cases of gonorrhea were reported in 28 countries of the European Union and the European Economic Area, an increase of 48% compared to 2021. In 2022, in the EU/EEA, the notification rate for gonorrhea is the highest recorded by when European surveillance began in 2009 infections sexually transmitted”.
Invulnerability to treatment
Doctors are alarmed by the numbers pathologybut also for its growing invulnerability to treatment. Out of a total of 4,396 blood samples taken from patients diagnosed with gonorrhea, analyzed in 2022 by 23 countries as part of the surveillance program, two isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae resistant to the ceftriaxonethe antibiotic recommended for treating the disease.“These bacterial strains – highlighted the ECDC – They also showed extensive drug resistance (XDR) and multidrug resistance (MDR), characteristics that further limit therapeutic options.”.
Antibiotics have become ineffective
Not only that, between 2021 and 2022 the percentage of resistant isolates to azithromycin increased significantly from 14.2% to 25.6%. A considered fact “particularly worrying”, whereas azithromycin is often used with ceftriaxone to treat gonorrhea. In the same period also the resistance to ciprofloxacin has grown, from 62.8% to 65.9%. “And although resistance to cefixime remains low (0.3%), continuous monitoring is critical – explained the agency – particularly because gonococcal strains resistant to cefixime and ceftriaxone are spreading internationally”.
The risks
The increase in resistant strains, according to experts, could compromise the effectiveness of existing therapeutic options, posing a significant public health challenge until new ones become available. drugs. For this reason, the agency called for the implementation of strengthened, continuous and expanded, quality-assured surveillance of antimicrobial susceptibility to promptly detect resistance patterns and to periodically review and update therapeutic guidelines based on the most recent data. surveillance of antimicrobial resistance, so as to ensure the availability of the most effective treatments. Furthermore, it would be essential to invest in the development of new antibiotics and alternative therapeutic regimens. But it would also be necessary to strengthen the initiatives of public health aimed at preventing the spread of gonorrhea, including increased access to diagnostic services.
Bassetti’s position
“The case of super gonorrhea is the demonstration of the existence of two major problems that are highly underestimated even in Italy, sexually transmitted infections – there is a minority interest today compared to 10 years ago and little is said about it even about the use of condoms – and then there is an improper use of antibiotics often done by self-prescription or by reading on the web and these are the results I gonococciwhich are a cause of gonorrhea, are increasingly resistant to first-line oral antibiotics”. This is the infectious disease specialist’s comment Matteo Bassettidirector of infectious diseases at the San Martino polyclinic hospital in Genoa who spoke on the ECDC’s alarm regarding the growth of gonorrhea cases in Europe. “Infections will increase and become increasingly difficult to treat – he warned -.
The moment is to put the problem of antibiotic resistance which generates 5-6 million deaths a year at the center of the global agenda. Super gonorrhea is a problem within a problem and the scientific community cannot look the other way as it often has done.”.
