NSW is more than a third of the way to last years’ total.
Multidrug-resistant (MDR) gonorrhoea cases in NSW have risen by 45% in just three weeks.
An alert issued by NSW Health on February 2 reported 11 cases had been detected so far and encouraged swab collection when testing for gonorrhoea in order to detect antimicrobial resistance.
A spokesperson for NSW Health told The Medical Republic that the latest figures as of February 23 was 16 cases.
There were 41 cases in total for the state last year, and there have been five cases of extensively drug resistant (XDR) gonorrhoea since February 2025.
“Local transmission of multi drug-resistant gonorrhoea has increased in NSW,” the spokesperson told TMR. “This is consistent with worldwide trends.”
“Anal and pharyngeal gonorrhoea infections are asymptomatic in most people and vaginal gonorrhoea is asymptomatic in 80% of cases.”
NSW Health recommended IM ceftriaxone 500 mg (in 2mL of 1% lignocaine) for both anogenital and oropharyngeal gonorrhoea, together with azithromycin 1g for anogenital infection and 2g for oropharyngeal infection at time of treatment.
Practitioners were advised not to delay treatment while waiting for culture results if there was a positive PCR. Two weeks after treatment, test of cure (ToC) should be performed.
When notified of MDR or XDR gonorrhoea following cultures, or if ToC is positive, physicians should contact their local sexual health service or infectious diseases physician for treatment advice.
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“People with multi drug-resistant gonorrhoea may not respond to the antibiotics normally used to treat gonorrhoea and may need higher doses and/or other antibiotics generally only used for serious infections (gentamicin or a carbapenem),” the spokesperson said.
The alert also highlighted contact tracing for the previous two months as a priority.
