APR 05, 2018

Drug-Resistant Gonorrhea Case Confirmed

WRITTEN BY: Brenda Kelley Kim

The problem of infections becoming stronger and resistant to drug therapy is a global public health issue that has come about in part because of the overuse of antibiotics. Experts have long warned that using antibiotics when not necessary will allow superbugs to develop, making infections more difficult to treat. Recently, a patient in the UK sought treatment for gonorrhea, but it's turned out that his case is the first confirmed case of "Super Gonorrhea" which is resistant to multiple drugs. The first line treatments for the STD are usually azithromycin and ceftriaxone, but the patient with this virulent strain did not show any improvement. The World Health Organization calls this case a "confirmation of our greatest fear" because it's a drug-resistant infection that can spread globally.

The patient had traveled to Southeast Asia before reporting symptoms about a month later. He is currently being treated with heavy duty antibiotics that are usually reserved for seriously ill patients in the hospital. The National Health Service is monitoring his care, and a new round of tests will be done soon to see if the infection will subside.