DefinePK

Abstract

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is turning into a superbug that is resistant to previously and presently prescribed antimicrobials for gonorrhoea therapy, which is becoming a serious problem to public health worldwide. Given the gonorrhea’s global nature, use of antimicrobials at high rate, suboptimal control and AMR monitoring & failures in treatment, update of guidelines at slow pace in geographical settings, and capacity of gonococci bacterium to develop and retain AMR, the global problem of AMR in gonococcal bacteria is likely to worsen in the foreseeable future, and its severe complications will emerge as a silent killer. Resistance to antimicrobials used in clinical practice can be predicted by studying the evolution, emergence, and AMR spread in N. gonorrhoeae, including its mechanisms (molecular and phenotypic); upcoming methods for genetic testing of AMR may allow region-specific as well as tailor-made antimicrobial therapy. Besides, the design to circumvent resistance problems can be undertaken more rationally. This review focuses on the gonorrhea’s history, its treatment evolution, and emergence of its resistance; determinants of gonococcal resistance to previous and now recommended antimicrobials, along with biological costs and benefits; intensive actions and advances in near future required to detect and manage resistant gonococcal strains and therefore, keeping gonorrhoea as a preventable infection.