Gonorrhoea treatment failure caused by a Neisseria gonorrhoeae strain with combined ceftriaxone and high-level azithromycin resistance, England, February 2018.
Eyre DW., Sanderson ND., Lord E., Regisford-Reimmer N., Chau K., Barker L., Morgan M., Newnham R., Golparian D., Unemo M., Crook DW., Peto TE., Hughes G., Cole MJ., Fifer H., Edwards A., Andersson MI.
We describe a gonorrhoea case with combined high-level azithromycin resistance and ceftriaxone resistance. In February 2018, a heterosexual male was diagnosed with gonorrhoea in the United Kingdom following sexual intercourse with a locally resident female in Thailand and failed treatment with ceftriaxone plus doxycycline and subsequently spectinomycin. Resistance arose from two mechanisms combining for the first time in a genetic background similar to a commonly circulating strain. Urgent action is essential to prevent further spread.