Regardless of national recommendations, the ECDC says the use of doxycycline as post-exposure prophylaxis is spreading among men who have sex with men in the EU, both via medical prescription and through self-medication.
European centre warns of risk of antimicrobial resistance in sexually transmitted infections
Monday, 19 January 2026RSS
AI Summary AvailableECDC warns doxycycline PEP could raise resistance riskRead the synthesized summary with context and explainers
View full article on CNN PortugalRSS source
Context & Explainers
The National Institute of Statistics (National Institute of Statistics (Instituto Nacional de Estatística, INE) is Portugal’s official body for collecting and publishing data on population, economy and travel; it reported that trips by residents abroad rose 21.9% year-on-year to 975,000 in Q2 2025. Expats can use INE data for planning travel, business decisions or understanding tourism trends in Portugal via its website and published bulletins.
Doxycycline is a broad‑spectrum antibiotic from the tetracycline class used to treat various bacterial infections such as respiratory infections, skin infections and some sexually transmitted infections. The ECDC notes its increasing use as post‑exposure prophylaxis (doxycycline PEP) among some men who have sex with men in the EU, but this practice raises concerns about side effects and antibiotic resistance so anyone considering it should consult a clinician.
The National Institute of Health Ricardo Jorge (Instituto Nacional de Saúde Ricardo Jorge or INSA) is Portugal's public health institute responsible for epidemiological surveillance, reference laboratories, research and technical guidance for the health system. INSA plays a central role in testing, tracking infectious diseases and issuing scientific advice used by the government and the Serviço Nacional de Saúde, so its findings often shape public-health measures and travel or testing guidance.
The Constitutional Court (Tribunal Constitucional) is Portugal's highest court for constitutional review, responsible for checking whether laws and statutes comply with the Constitution and for annulling or suspending unconstitutional measures. FNAM's push for a review matters because the court can strike down or block parts of the regional emergency services statute, directly affecting how emergency care is regulated.
