Sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis are becoming harder to treat due to antibiotic resistance, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned.
In response to the growing threat, the WHO has issued health officials around the world with new guidelines on how to best treat the three STIs, which are all caused by bacteria.
It is estimated that each year, 131 million people are infected with chlamydia, 78 million with gonorrhoea, and 5.6 million with syphilis worldwide.
The WHO warned that some antibiotics commonly used to treat these STIs are now failing as a result of misuse and overuse, reducing treatment options.
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Of the three STIs, gonorrhoea has developed the strongest resistance to antibiotics, the WHO warned.
Strains of multidrug-resistant gonorrhoea, sometimes referred to as “super gonorrhoea”, that do not respond to any available antibiotics have already been detected.
Antibiotic resistance in chlamydia and syphilis, though less common, also exists, making prevention and prompt treatment critical.
Under the new guidelines, the WHO has urged national health authorities to track the prevalence of resistance to different antibiotics in the strains of gonorrhoea circulating among their population.
The new guidelines call on health authorities to advise doctors to prescribe whichever antibiotic would be most effective, based on local resistance patterns.
They no longer recommend quinolones (a class of antibiotic) for the treatment of gonorrhoea due to widespread high levels of resistance.
To treat syphilis, the guidelines state a single dose of benzathine penicillin – a form of the antibiotic that is injected by a doctor or nurse into the infected patient’s buttock or thigh muscle - is now the most effective treatment.
Meanwhile the organisation has stressed the importance of condoms as a preventative measure against chlamydia and other STIs.
“Chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis are major public health problems worldwide, affecting millions of peoples’ quality of life, causing serious illness and sometimes death,” said Ian Askew, director of reproductive health and research at the WHO.
“The new WHO guidelines reinforce the need to treat these STIs with the right antibiotic, at the right dose, and the right time to reduce their spread and improve sexual and reproductive health.
“To do that, national health services need to monitor the patterns of antibiotic resistance in these infections within their countries.”
The WHO also warned that, when left undiagnosed and untreated, these STIs can result in serious complications and long-term health problems for women, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, and miscarriage.
It said untreated gonorrhoea and chlamydia can cause infertility in both men and women, while infection with chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis can also increase a person’s risk of being infected with HIV.
An untreated STI in a pregnant woman increases the chances of stillbirth and newborn death.
Most Common STIs And Symptoms
Chlamydia(01 of10)
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The most common STI in the UK for a multitude of different of reasons. Chlamydia is unfortunately practically symptomless, meaning you could have it for years and not know. It is also one of the easiest diseases to spread amongst sexual partners, so you might not know you’re spreading it all over town.On occasion Chlamydia can cause a burning sensation when passing urine in both men and women but do not rely on this as a sign. The infection is easily treatable, so it’s best to get yourself checked as a local health clinic as soon as possible. (credit:Jason Hetherington via Getty Images)
Genital Warts(02 of10)
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As the name suggests, this sexually transmitted disease appears as small fleshy growths and bumps on or around your genital or anal area. The warts are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) of which some types can lead to cervical cancer. Don’t worry; genital warts are not this strain. Genital warts cannot be fully cured and the disease can lay dormant, showing itself a year, two years or even longer after you initially contract it. The unsightly warts can be banished with the use of creams and cryotherapy (they freeze them off). (credit:Jupiterimages via Getty Images)
Genital Herpes(03 of10)
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Sadly another infection without a cure and with a massive stigma. Herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), which is exactly the same virus that causes cold sores. People usually develop symptoms of HSV a few days after coming into contact with the virus. This is when small painful blisters develop which can cause itching, tingling or make it painful to urinate. Once you’ve been infected the virus remains dormant most of the time. If you have herpes be careful, the infection is much more likely to spread when you are having an outbreak so refrain from intercourse when sores and blisters are apparent. (credit:IPGGutenbergUKLtd via Getty Images)
Gonorrhoea(04 of10)
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Gonorrhoea is a bacterial STI easily passed on during sex. Roughly half of women and 10% of men don’t experience symptoms and much like Chlamydia, are often unaware they are infected. If you do experience symptoms, in women they usually present themselves as a burning sensation when urinating, vaginal discharge (which is often a watery yellow or green substance), pain in the lower abdomen during sex or bleeding after sex. Men should look out for a burning sensation when urinating, as well as discharge, and should watch out for tenderness in the testicles. Gonorrhoea can also infect your rectum, throat and even eyes. Luckily this infection is easily rid of through a course of antibiotics but should not be left untreated as it can lead to serious health problems. (credit:dolgachov via Getty Images)
Trichomoniasis(05 of10)
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Trichomoniasis is an STI caused by a small parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. Again it can easily be passed on through sex and unfortunately it’s another infection that can be hard to notice from symptoms alone. Women can get frothy yellow or green discharge and men can also experience the same. Luckily this infection is treatable with a course of antibiotics. (credit:luchschen via Getty Images)
HIV (06 of10)
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HIV is mostly passed on through unprotected sex but it can also be transmitted by coming into contact with infected blood, the most common example of this is by sharing needles to inject drugs. The virus itself attacks and weakens the immune system, causing your body to struggle to fight infections and diseases. There is still unfortunately no cure for HIV but there are treatments that allow most people to live a long and healthy life. AIDS is the final stage of the HIV infection, where your body can no longer try to fight life threatening infections. A simple blood test is used to test for infection. (credit:Adam Petto via Getty Images)
Syphilis(07 of10)
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Syphilis is a bacterial infection that causes painless but very infectious sores on your genitals or around the mouth in its early stage. The sore usually lasts up to 6 weeks before disappearing. Symptoms that follow this can come in the form of rashes, flu like illness or patchy hair loss. The late stage of syphilis normally occurs many years after you initially contract the infection and can cause very serious conditions such as heart problems, blindness and even paralysis. Like HIV, a simple blood test can determine whether you have the condition or not and can be treated with antibiotics. (credit:Tetra Images via Getty Images)
Pubic Lice(08 of10)
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Pubic lice, or crabs as they are more commonly known, are easily passed to others through close genital contact. Much like head lice, they are usually found in hair, be this in your pubic hair or even in your underarm hair. The lice crawl from hair to hair but don’t jump or fly. They can be treated successfully with special creams or shampoos available over counter so you don’t need to go get the razor out. (credit:Dimitri Otis via Getty Images)
Hepatitis C(09 of10)
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Hepatitis C is a virus that can cause serious and potentially life-threatening damage to your liver. It is most commonly transmitted through the sharing of needles when injecting drugs or steroids, however it can also be spread during unprotected sex. The risk of the disease spread this way is increased if there are genital sores or ulcers from another sexually transmitted infection or if either person has contracted HIV. Hepatitis C is often treated successfully by taking a combination of medicines for several months. (credit:Wavebreakmedia Ltd via Getty Images)
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease(10 of10)
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Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is caused by an infection developed in the female upper genital tract. In the majority of cases, the condition is caused by a bacterial infection spread from the vagina all the way into the womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries. Although not technically an STI itself, it can be a bi-product of untreated STIS. It is estimated that one in 10 women with untreated Chlamydia will develop PID within a year. The disease can be treated easily and effectively with antibiotics if it’s caught early enough, however if the condition is left untreated it can lead to more serious complications. (credit:Piotr Marcinski via Getty Images)