A British man has contracted what doctors have described as the world’s ‘worst-ever’ case of super-gonorrhea on a trip to Asia.

The man, who has not been named by Public Health England, could not be treated with the antibiotics usually used for the sexually transmitted infection.

He had a regular partner in the UK, but contracted the bug after a sexual encounter with a woman in South East Asia.

The ‘first choice’ antibiotic treatment – a combination of azithromycin and ceftriaxone – has failed to treat the bug, in a world first.

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Gonorrhea is spread by unprotected sex, and symptoms can include a thick green or yellow discharge from sexual organs and pain while urinating.

Dr Gwenda Hughes, from Public Health England, said: ‘This is the first time a case has displayed such high-level resistance to both of these drugs and to most other commonly used antibiotics.’

The man is now being treated with another antibiotic, and researchers are waiting to see if it will work, Public Health England said.

Dr Hughes said, ‘We are following up this case to ensure that the infection was effectively treated with other options and the risk of any onward transmission is minimised.’