The CDC states there is only one drug left to treat gonorrhea

 

Over the past few months, there have been reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which showed that the sexually transmitted disease (STD) gonorrhea is becoming increasingly resistant to medications. Now, health officials have announced that there is only one drug left that can treat the STD, and have urged doctors to stop the use of other medications.

Reuters reports that the CDC has stopped recommending the use of the drug cefixime to treat gonorrhea, since it is becoming less effective. Now, the organization suggests only using the injectable generic antibiotic ceftriaxone, in combination with another antibiotic to treat the STD.

"The change in antibiotic treatment guidelines we are making today is a critical pre-emptive strike to preserve the last effective treatment option," said Gail Bolan, M.D., director of the CDC's STD Prevention division, quoted by Reuters."This will not solve the problem of drug-resistant gonorrhea once and for all, but it may buy us time to allow researchers and drug developers to develop new treatments."

Bolan added that in the U.S., there are an estimated 300,000 reported cases of gonorrhea each year. However, this STD is often symptomless, so many more people may gonorrhea and not even know it.

According to The Mayo Clinic, the best ways that people can protect themselves from developing gonorrhea is to practice safer sex by using a condom, and to avoid having sex with anyone who is showing unusual symptoms such as a gential rash or sore. Furthermore, having sex with multiple partners increases a person's risk of contracting an STD, which is why people should remain monogamous to reduce their chances of getting gonorrhea.

The CDC is collaborating with the National Institutes of Health to test if any existing drugs could be effective against gonorrhea.