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Warning of gonorrhoea drugs risk | Warning of gonorrhoea drugs risk |
(about 23 hours later) | |
The growing resistance to antibiotics threatens to make gonorrhoea extremely difficult to treat, a Health Protection Agency official has warned. | |
Current drugs are still effective but signs of emerging resistance mean treatments may soon need to be revised, Professor Catherine Ison says. | Current drugs are still effective but signs of emerging resistance mean treatments may soon need to be revised, Professor Catherine Ison says. |
It could mean multiple-dose treatments instead of single doses, she says. | It could mean multiple-dose treatments instead of single doses, she says. |
Gonorrhoea is the second most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the UK. | Gonorrhoea is the second most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the UK. |
Professor Ison says there is a very real possibility that strains of gonorrhoea-causing bacteria that are resistant to all current treatment options could emerge in the near future. | Professor Ison says there is a very real possibility that strains of gonorrhoea-causing bacteria that are resistant to all current treatment options could emerge in the near future. |
She has raised the issue at the Society for General Microbiology's spring meeting in Edinburgh. | She has raised the issue at the Society for General Microbiology's spring meeting in Edinburgh. |
Pregnancy risk | Pregnancy risk |
The Health Protection Agency has been keeping a close watch on antibiotic resistance among strains of gonorrhoea for some time and says there is an urgent need for the development of new treatments. | The Health Protection Agency has been keeping a close watch on antibiotic resistance among strains of gonorrhoea for some time and says there is an urgent need for the development of new treatments. |
If left untreated, gonorrhoea can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, and women can become infertile or have ectopic pregnancies. | If left untreated, gonorrhoea can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, and women can become infertile or have ectopic pregnancies. |
If this problem isn't addressed then there is a real possibility that gonorrhoea will become a very difficult infection to treat Professor Catherine Ison, Health Protection Agency | If this problem isn't addressed then there is a real possibility that gonorrhoea will become a very difficult infection to treat Professor Catherine Ison, Health Protection Agency |
The current treatment to use is either ceftriaxone or cefixime. These antibiotics are administered as a single dose. | The current treatment to use is either ceftriaxone or cefixime. These antibiotics are administered as a single dose. |
Professor Ison said: "Choosing an effective antibiotic can be a challenge because the organism that causes gonorrhoea is very versatile and develops resistance to antibiotics very quickly. | Professor Ison said: "Choosing an effective antibiotic can be a challenge because the organism that causes gonorrhoea is very versatile and develops resistance to antibiotics very quickly. |
"Penicillin was used for many years until it was no longer effective and a number of other agents have been used since. | "Penicillin was used for many years until it was no longer effective and a number of other agents have been used since. |
"The current drugs of choice, ceftriaxone and cefixime, are still very effective but there are signs that resistance, particularly to cefixime, is emerging and soon these drugs may not be a good choice." | "The current drugs of choice, ceftriaxone and cefixime, are still very effective but there are signs that resistance, particularly to cefixime, is emerging and soon these drugs may not be a good choice." |
Bad news | Bad news |
She added: "There are few new drugs available and so it is probable that the current use of a single dose may soon need to be revised and treatment over several days or with more than one antibiotic will need to be considered. | She added: "There are few new drugs available and so it is probable that the current use of a single dose may soon need to be revised and treatment over several days or with more than one antibiotic will need to be considered. |
"If this problem isn't addressed then there is a real possibility that gonorrhoea will become a very difficult infection to treat." | "If this problem isn't addressed then there is a real possibility that gonorrhoea will become a very difficult infection to treat." |
Hugh Pennington, emeritus professor of bacteriology at Aberdeen University, said it would be bad news from a public health point of view if people had to be given several doses. | Hugh Pennington, emeritus professor of bacteriology at Aberdeen University, said it would be bad news from a public health point of view if people had to be given several doses. |
Whilst recognising that this might prove necessary, he said the downside was that some patients would not go back to a clinic for later treatments and so would not get rid of the infection. | Whilst recognising that this might prove necessary, he said the downside was that some patients would not go back to a clinic for later treatments and so would not get rid of the infection. |
"This could make resistance, which could lead to a superbug situation," he said. | "This could make resistance, which could lead to a superbug situation," he said. |
The Health Protection Agency says there is no need to change treatment at the moment, but it is important for doctors to be vigilant. | The Health Protection Agency says there is no need to change treatment at the moment, but it is important for doctors to be vigilant. |
It says the high number of cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as gonorrhoea reinforces the need for people to use condoms with new and casual partners. | |
Jason Warriner, Clinical Director at Terrence Higgins Trust, said: "As levels of STIs continue to rise, we will see drug-resistant strains develop. This just shows how crucial it is for those who have been at risk to go for regular sexual health check-ups. | |
"We recommend people who are sexually active get checked out at least once a year. Most modern tests involve a simple urine sample or self-administered swab. They are quick, easy, and a good way to achieve piece of mind." |
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