The first Gonorrhoea Resistance Action Plan for England and Wales has been published. It recommends a heightened national response to combat the threat.
Developed by the Gonococcal Resistance to Antimicrobials Surveillance Programme (GRASP), the action plan was established by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) to monitor the growing global problem of emerging resistance over the last decade in the absence of new therapeutic options. Gonorrhoea is the second most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) in England. In 2011, new diagnoses rose by nearly 25% in one year. Over one-third of cases were in men who have sex with men, up by around 25% in 2010. GRASP 2011 data suggest that up to one-third of reported cases were repeat infections. Dr Gwenda Hughes, head of STI surveillance at the HPA, said: “We are seriously concerned about continuing high levels of gonorrhoea transmission and repeat infection, suggesting we need to do more to reduce unsafe sexual behaviour. The GRASP Action Plan advocates comprehensive health promotion programmes to encourage safer sexual behaviour, particularly in higher risk groups, alongside maintaining good access to STI screening and sexual health services.”
