Posted by 
When gonorrhoea is resistant to one of two antibiotics recommended to treat it, it is known as super gonorrhoea.
All types of gonorrhoea – historically called ‘the clap’ – are caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
The sexually transmitted infection (STI) is becoming increasing difficult to treat, able to fight off three common drugs.
It comes amid a soar in cases – there were almost 45,000 diagnoses in England in 2017, a rise of 22 per cent in one year, figures show.
There is a rise from 33.7 per cent in 2016.
Azithromycin was resistant in 9.2 per cent of cases in 2017, compared with 4.7 per cent in 2016.
In March last year, the ‘worst case ever’ of super-gonorrhoea was detected in a British man after he had sex with a south-eastern Asian woman.
Laboratory tests revealed the Brit had high resistance to both ceftriaxone and azithromycin. He was eventually treated with ertapenem.
The case lead to warnings from doctors that more difficult cases such as this would be seen. World Health Organization experts raised fears two years ago the STI, once known as the ‘clap’, could become immune to antibiotics in a ‘matter of years’.
Analysis of STI data around the world previously revealed 97 per cent of countries have reported strains of gonorrhoea that are resistant to ciprofloxacin.
Analysis of STI data around the world previously revealed 97 per cent of countries have reported strains of gonorrhoea that are resistant to ciprofloxacin.
And more than 50 countries warned strains were showing some form of resistance to ceftraixone. Chief Medical Officer Dame Sally Davies wrote to GPs in 2015 warning that gonorrhoea could become an ‘untreatable disease’.
Since then, health officials have urged people to remember to use condoms.
But in recent years, it has been revealed that throats act as a ‘silent reservoir’ for gonorrhoea.
Since then, health officials have urged people to remember to use condoms.
But in recent years, it has been revealed that throats act as a ‘silent reservoir’ for gonorrhoea.
Drug-resistant gonorrhoea can spread from an infected person’s throat during oral sex without them even knowing they have the STI, experts said. About one in ten infected men and five in ten infected women will not experience any obvious symptoms, according to the NHS.
The number of gonnorrhoea cases has risen alongside other sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis and chlamydia.
The number of gonnorrhoea cases has risen alongside other sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis and chlamydia.