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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNew 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.
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New public health threat: Incurable and fatal gonorrhea. Very scary. (Original Post)
nichomachus
Aug 2012
OP
Gonorrhea can be transmitted any place there is mucous membrane -- even the eyes
nichomachus
Aug 2012
#8
FirstLight
(13,360 posts)1. time to
find myself a sig other and stay out of the bar scene... right?
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)2. There's a smilie for that.
MineralMan
(146,317 posts)3. I'm glad I'm monogamous and
in a very stable relationship. STDs have gotten more and more dangerous in my 67 year lifetime. Be careful out there, everyone.
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)6. 'ello youngster
I'm 68.
MineralMan
(146,317 posts)10. Why you old geezer!
Evasporque
(2,133 posts)4. wrap that rascal...nt
nichomachus
(12,754 posts)8. Gonorrhea can be transmitted any place there is mucous membrane -- even the eyes
nanabugg
(2,198 posts)5. In case you didn't see my post from yesterday...there is always some politics behind every crisis
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
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...
easily treated. This attitude has led to the mess we're in now.
Too many people have assumed antibiotics are infallible wonder drugs.
progressivebydesign
(19,458 posts)9. we need to get antibiotics out of our food supply. n/t