Irresistible: developing new solutions for antimicrobial resistant STIs

This report warns that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing public health threat, particularly for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as gonorrhoea, Mycoplasma genitalium and trichomoniasis. Gonorrhoea is already classified as multidrug resistant, while the others are showing increasing resistance. Without better diagnostics and vaccines, even new antimicrobials will quickly face resistance, leaving few effective options.

Key points include:

• AMR challenges: misuse and overuse of limited antibiotics have reduced treatment effectiveness.

• Diagnostics gap: clinicians often lack rapid, affordable tools to identify resistant strains, leading to guesswork and inappropriate use.

• Stewardship need: antimicrobials must be used responsibly to slow resistance while ensuring access to effective drugs.

• Innovation priorities: new antimicrobials, vaccines, improved diagnostics, and incentivized “insurance policy” second-line treatments are essential.

• STI impact: resistant STIs can spread easily and cause serious long-term health effects, including infertility.

The report calls for urgent investment in stewardship, diagnostics, R&D pipelines, and equitable access to protect current and future generations from untreatable STIs.