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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Emerging sex disease MG 'could become next superbug' | Emerging sex disease MG 'could become next superbug' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A little known sexually transmitted infection could become the next superbug unless people become more vigilant, experts are warning. | A little known sexually transmitted infection could become the next superbug unless people become more vigilant, experts are warning. |
| Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) often has no symptoms but can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, which can leave some women infertile. | Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) often has no symptoms but can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, which can leave some women infertile. |
| MG can be missed - and if it is not treated correctly, it can develop resistance to antibiotics. | MG can be missed - and if it is not treated correctly, it can develop resistance to antibiotics. |
| The British Association of Sexual Health and HIV is launching new advice. | The British Association of Sexual Health and HIV is launching new advice. |
| Its draft guidelines detail how best to spot and treat MG. | Its draft guidelines detail how best to spot and treat MG. |
| What is MG? | What is MG? |
| Mycoplasma genitalium is a bacterium that can cause inflammation of the urethra in men, causing discharge from the penis and making it painful to urinate. | Mycoplasma genitalium is a bacterium that can cause inflammation of the urethra in men, causing discharge from the penis and making it painful to urinate. |
| In women, it can cause inflammation of the reproductive organs (womb and fallopian tubes) too, causing pain and possibly a fever and some bleeding. | In women, it can cause inflammation of the reproductive organs (womb and fallopian tubes) too, causing pain and possibly a fever and some bleeding. |
| You can get it by having unprotected sex with someone who has it. Condoms can prevent this spread. | You can get it by having unprotected sex with someone who has it. Condoms can prevent this spread. |
| It was first identified in the UK in the 1980s and is thought to affect 1-2% of the general population. | It was first identified in the UK in the 1980s and is thought to affect 1-2% of the general population. |
| MG does not always cause symptoms and will not always need treatment, but it can be missed or mistaken for a different sexually transmitted infection, such as Chlamydia. | MG does not always cause symptoms and will not always need treatment, but it can be missed or mistaken for a different sexually transmitted infection, such as Chlamydia. |
| The BASHH says this is concerning. | The BASHH says this is concerning. |
| Tests for MG have recently been developed but are not available in all clinics yet although doctors can send samples to Public Health England's laboratory to get a diagnostic result. | Tests for MG have recently been developed but are not available in all clinics yet although doctors can send samples to Public Health England's laboratory to get a diagnostic result. |
| It can be treated with antibiotics - but the infection is developing resistance to some of these drugs. | It can be treated with antibiotics - but the infection is developing resistance to some of these drugs. |
| 'I tested positive for MG' | |
| John - not his real name - contacted the BBC to tell of his experience of having the infection. | |
| "I was diagnosed with MG last year after meeting my new partner. | |
| "We both sensibly got tested and declared clean at the start of the relationship but GUM [genitourinary medicine] clinics don't test for MG, unless you have symptoms. | |
| "So about a month into the relationship I developed the male symptoms - a sharp burning pain while urinating and a pus-like dishcharge from my urethra - but I had no idea what was wrong. | |
| "After a few weeks I tested positive, while my partner was negative, which didn't make sense. She then got tested again and was positive. | |
| "We were put on antibiotics for two weeks but had no sexual contact for five, to make sure we were clean. After further tests we both tested negative but I still had some small amount of leakage which I was told would go away. It eventually cleared. | |
| "Then out of the blue I got a UTI and symptoms were exactly like MG. | |
| "I am now certain it has returned and I am awaiting further test results. | |
| "The GUM clinic refused to retest my partner as she hasn't shown any symptoms. | |
| "I think clinics should test for MG as part of their sexual health screening process, as this would have been picked up at the start for me." | |
| 'Pack condoms' | 'Pack condoms' |
| Eradication rates of MG following treatment with one family of antibiotics, called macrolides, are decreasing globally. Macrolide resistance in the UK is estimated at about 40%, say the guidelines. | Eradication rates of MG following treatment with one family of antibiotics, called macrolides, are decreasing globally. Macrolide resistance in the UK is estimated at about 40%, say the guidelines. |
| One particular macrolide antibiotic, azithromycin, still works in most cases however. | One particular macrolide antibiotic, azithromycin, still works in most cases however. |
| Dr Peter Greenhouse, a sexual consultant in Bristol and BASHH member, urged people to take precautions. | Dr Peter Greenhouse, a sexual consultant in Bristol and BASHH member, urged people to take precautions. |
| "It's about time the public learned about Mycoplasma genitalium," he said. | "It's about time the public learned about Mycoplasma genitalium," he said. |
| "It's yet another good reason to pack the condoms for the summer holidays - and actually use them." | "It's yet another good reason to pack the condoms for the summer holidays - and actually use them." |
| 'Out of control' | 'Out of control' |
| Paddy Horner, who co-wrote the guidelines, said: "These new guidelines have been developed, because we can't afford to continue with the approach we have followed for the past 15 years as this will undoubtedly lead to a public health emergency with the emergence of MG as a superbug. | Paddy Horner, who co-wrote the guidelines, said: "These new guidelines have been developed, because we can't afford to continue with the approach we have followed for the past 15 years as this will undoubtedly lead to a public health emergency with the emergence of MG as a superbug. |
| "Our guidelines recommend that patients with symptoms are correctly diagnosed using an accurate MG test, treated correctly then followed up to make sure they are cured. | "Our guidelines recommend that patients with symptoms are correctly diagnosed using an accurate MG test, treated correctly then followed up to make sure they are cured. |
| "Resources are urgently needed to ensure that diagnostic and antimicrobial resistance testing is available for women with the condition who are at high risk of infertility. | "Resources are urgently needed to ensure that diagnostic and antimicrobial resistance testing is available for women with the condition who are at high risk of infertility. |
| "We are asking the government directly to make this funding available to prevent a public health emergency waiting to happen and which is already spiralling out of control." | "We are asking the government directly to make this funding available to prevent a public health emergency waiting to happen and which is already spiralling out of control." |
| Public Health England says testing is available to diagnose MG and any signs of drug resistance, if necessary. | Public Health England says testing is available to diagnose MG and any signs of drug resistance, if necessary. |
| Dr Helen Fifer, consultant microbiologist at Public Health England, welcomed the guidelines, adding: "If you have symptoms of an STI, we recommend you get tested at your local sexual health clinic. | Dr Helen Fifer, consultant microbiologist at Public Health England, welcomed the guidelines, adding: "If you have symptoms of an STI, we recommend you get tested at your local sexual health clinic. |
| "Everyone can protect themselves from STIs by consistently and correctly using condoms with new and casual partners." | "Everyone can protect themselves from STIs by consistently and correctly using condoms with new and casual partners." |