Antimicrobial resistance in bacterial sexually transmitted infections

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is becoming a serious threat in sexually transmitted infections (STIs), particularly for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Mycoplasma genitalium, which are increasingly resistant to all available treatments—raising concerns they could become untreatable.

• Treatment failures are already being reported for these infections
• Treponema pallidum (syphilis) shows emerging resistance to macrolides
• Chlamydia trachomatis remains treatable, but resistance could develop

Without urgent action—including better surveillance, responsible antibiotic use, improved diagnostics, and development of new drugs and vaccines—common STIs could become much harder or even impossible to treat.