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nichomachus

(12,754 posts)
Fri Aug 10, 2012, 01:59 PM Aug 2012

New public health threat: Incurable and fatal gonorrhea. Very scary.

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/08/here-it-comes-super-gonorrhea/260937/

But over the past decades, gonorrhea has been mowing down our antibiotics. If this was the Olympic 400 IM, gonorrhea would be the Ryan Lochte and our antibiotics would be the guy from Moldova.

The list of effective antibiotics has been dwindling as the bacteria became resistant, and now it's down to one. Five years ago, the CDC said fluoroquinolones were no longer effective, but oral cephalosporins were still a common/easy treatment. Now injected ceftriaxone is the only recommended effective drug we have left. And it has to be given along with either azithromycin or doxycycline.

So, yes, getting gonorrhea now means that you have to go in and get antibiotics through a needle. And then everyone with whom you've had sex in the last 60 days has to get tested, too.

Once gonorrhea becomes resistant to the last of our cephalosporin antibiotics -- "it's only a matter of time," according to Dr. Gail Bolan, Director of STD Prevention at the CDC in today's announcement -- we will have no treatment. Then when it gets into your bloodstream, it will be lethal.


This affects men and women, gays and straights alike. Also, gonorrhea is more easily transmitted than HIV.
10 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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New public health threat: Incurable and fatal gonorrhea. Very scary. (Original Post) nichomachus Aug 2012 OP
time to FirstLight Aug 2012 #1
There's a smilie for that. dipsydoodle Aug 2012 #2
I'm glad I'm monogamous and MineralMan Aug 2012 #3
'ello youngster dipsydoodle Aug 2012 #6
Why you old geezer! MineralMan Aug 2012 #10
wrap that rascal...nt Evasporque Aug 2012 #4
Gonorrhea can be transmitted any place there is mucous membrane -- even the eyes nichomachus Aug 2012 #8
In case you didn't see my post from yesterday...there is always some politics behind every crisis nanabugg Aug 2012 #5
My 1970s health class gave the impression that gonorrhea is no big deal... qb Aug 2012 #7
we need to get antibiotics out of our food supply. n/t progressivebydesign Aug 2012 #9

MineralMan

(146,317 posts)
3. I'm glad I'm monogamous and
Fri Aug 10, 2012, 02:06 PM
Aug 2012

in a very stable relationship. STDs have gotten more and more dangerous in my 67 year lifetime. Be careful out there, everyone.

 

nanabugg

(2,198 posts)
5. In case you didn't see my post from yesterday...there is always some politics behind every crisis
Fri Aug 10, 2012, 02:12 PM
Aug 2012
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/08/09/158464908/gonorrhea-evades-antibiotics-leaving-only-one-drug-to-treat-disease

As you listen to this discussion pay close attention to why big Pharma is not really interested in coming up with a new drug for this. The guest suggests that government might need to play a role in beating this health issue.

Yeah, as soon as government puts enough money in it, does the research, the private sector pharmas will patent everything and charge a butt-load of money for the drug. Listen and learn.


post from yesterday









qb

(5,924 posts)
7. My 1970s health class gave the impression that gonorrhea is no big deal...
Fri Aug 10, 2012, 02:59 PM
Aug 2012

easily treated. This attitude has led to the mess we're in now.
Too many people have assumed antibiotics are infallible wonder drugs.

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