'Concerning' New Gonorrhea Strain Detected In MA, First In U.S.: DPH

A novel strain of gonorrhea that has shown a reduced response to multiple antibiotics has been detected in a Massachusetts resident and is the first time the strain has been seen in the United States, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced Thursday.

Gonorrhea is a sexually-transmitted bacterial infection that may show no symptoms, the department said. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, if symptoms occur, they can include discharge, burning during urination, unusual sores and rash.

If left untreated, the infection can result in pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and other health problems, the department of public health said.

This is the first time that gonorrhea has shown resistance to five classes of antibiotics in the United States, according to the department.

Another case in the state had genetic markers that indicated a similar drug response, though officials have not identified a personal connection between the two patients, the department said. Both cases were cured with ceftriaxone, the antibiotic currently recommended to treat gonorrhea.

This strain of gonorrhea has been previously seen in Asia-Pacific countries and in the United Kingdom — but not in the United States, according to the department..

"These cases are an important reminder that strains of gonorrhea in the US are becoming less responsive to a limited arsenal of antibiotics," the department said in a news release.

The department is contact tracing to determine if other residents have been infected by the strain, the agency said.

In addition, the department issued an alert to clinicians and laboratories to raise awareness and increase the use of lab culture testing for those with symptoms of gonorrhea to detect antibiotic resistance and remind them of the proper procedure for surveillance.

The alert also reinforced the CDC's recommendation to use high doses of ceftriaxone to treat all gonorrhea cases and to perform follow-up tests to ensure gonorrhea patients have been successfully treated.

“The discovery of this strain of gonorrhea is a serious public health concern which DPH, the CDC, and other health departments have been vigilant about detecting in the US,” Public Health Commissioner Margret Cooke said in a statement. “We urge all sexually active people to be regularly tested for sexually transmitted infections and to consider reducing the number of their sexual partners and increasing their use of condoms when having sex. Clinicians are advised to review the clinical alert and assist with our expanded surveillance efforts.”

Gonorrhea has been increasing in Massachusetts and nationally, adding to concerns about the potential spread of this strain which is more difficult to treat, according to the department. In Massachusetts, laboratory-confirmed cases of gonorrhea have increased by 312 percent from a low point of 1,976 cases in 2009 to 8,133 in 2021.

Nationally, confirmed cases have risen by 131 percent between 2009 and 2021, with 696,764 cases reported in the US in 2021, according to the CDC.