Doctors battle STD outbreak

GOLD Coast sexual health doctors are fighting to contain various super strains of gonorrhoea that have built up resistance to antibiotics.

Gold Coast Sexual Health Clinic Doctor Caroline Thng said due to the growing number of gonorrhoea cases being treated by local doctors in recent years, the antibiotic resistance of the sexually transmitted disease was of particular concern to local health professionals.

“We’ve had to switch antibiotics ... the resistance is clear, it’s already happening,” she said.

“If we do get any form of resistance the golden question is where to go next.”

Gold Coast Health data shows the number of gonorrhoea cases treated within the public health system on the Gold Coast jumped from 311 in 2014 to 366 in 2015 and 607 last year.

Dr Thng said there were many reasons behind the jump including improved testing methods, encouragement of patients to get tests as well as a shift in the sexual promiscuity of young people.

“There is more sexual activity that is happening in the younger age groups,”she said.