Novel strategies for prevention and treatment of antimicrobial resistance in sexually-transmitted infections

PURPOSE of reviewAntimicrobial resistance in sexually acquired infection (STI) pathogens is an important global public health threat. There is an urgent need for novel STI treatment and prevention strategies to tackle the rising incidence of STIs in high-income settings and the static progress in low- and middle-income settings over the past decade. The purpose of this review was to describe the research outlining the emergence of resistance in common STI pathogens and new strategies for their treatment and prevention.Recent findingsRates of STIs have dramatically increased over the past decade. Further, antimicrobial resistance to first-line agents among key STI pathogens continues to emerge globally. Recent findings demonstrate promising results regarding the efficacy of novel antimicrobial treatment strategies for these pathogens, including several new, repurposed and unique combinations of antimicrobials. In addition, a number of new biomedical prevention strategies, such as antibacterial mouthwash and doxycycline chemoprophylaxis, are being investigated as novel prevention strategies for bacterial STIs.SummarySignificant progress has been made in the development of novel antimicrobials for the treatment of antimicrobial-resistant sexually acquired pathogens. However, due to the rapid development of resistance to antimicrobials demonstrated by these pathogens in the past, further research and development of effective prevention strategies should be prioritized.