Is Gonorrhea Our New Superbug?

Gonorrhea may be joining such diseases as MRSA and be labeled as a Superbug.

Is Gonorrhea Our New Superbug?

Gonorrhea Basics

Gonorrhea, sometimes still referred to as “the clap”, has been around for years and is, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), the second most commonly reported infectious disease in the United States today. It is a bacterium that is spread through direct sexual contact, genital or oral, and can be passed from a mother to a baby at the time of birth.

Gonorrhea can infect areas of the reproductive tract, including the cervix, uterus and even on up into the fallopian tubes. In both men and women it can also infect the anus. Additionally, gonorrhea can infect the mouth and throat of patients, and even the eyes.

Gonorrhea is Becoming Resistant to Traditional Treatments

According to Kate Moisse of ABC News, a new strain of gonorrhea has now been discovered in Japan. Does this mean it now joins diseases such as Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as a super bug? Perhaps.

Over the years gonorrhea, carrying the scientific name of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, has been successfully treated with a trail of antibiotics, including tetracycline and penicillin. Eventually, each antibiotic has become less effective. According to the NIAID, this bacterium can actually alters its genetic makeup by picking up and using DNA from other bacterium. This means that the strain can keep changing and effectively outmaneuver antibiotics used to treat it. Currently, cephalasporins are the treatment of choice but, fearing antibiotic resistance, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) now recommends dual treatment. This means besides treating with a cephalosporin, providers should also prescribe a second antibiotic. The CDC recognizes this situation as a growing public health concern.

New Gonorrhea Treatments in the Works

There is reason for hope, though. NIAID is funding an investigator at Virginia Commonwealth University, Dr. Cynthia Cornelissen, as she is working toward a goal of a gonorrhea vaccine. . Her research is focusing on two proteins in the bacterium that can serve as targets for the vaccine. Also, NIAID reports that Rib-X Pharmaceuticals is testing their drug, delafloxacin, against gonorrhea. Perhaps this will soon be the new standard of treatment for gonorrhea. Delafloxacin has been effective against other resistant infections, including MRSA. University, Dr. Cynthia Cornelissen, as she is working toward a goal of a gonorrhea vaccine. The NIAID website is a good site to learn more about this and other research. .

According to WebMD there are measures to reduce your risk of getting or giving gonorrhea. For instance, avoid sexual contact if you are symptomatic of any sexually transmitted diseases, use a condom, and don’t have sex with more than one sexual partner at a time. According to WebMD multiple partners increase your risk of catching gonorrhea or any sexually transmitted disease. Of course total monagomy or absistence are safe options. If you fear you’ve put yourself at risk, it is advisable to make an appointment with your doctor for a screening.