May 3, 2010 | Health Matters

An untreatable strain of gonorrhea

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is warning that the currently treatable sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea may become drug resistant due to the overuse of antibiotics.

Australia, Hong Kong and Japan have already reported treatment failures with oral cephalosporin, the last and most effective drug used against the STI, a WHO spokesman said.

"We are dealing with a serious issue with the implication that gonorrhea may become untreatable," said Dr Shin Young-soo, WHO regional director for the Western Pacific. "This will have a major impact on our efforts to control the disease and will result in an increase in serious health-related complications."

Left untreated, gonorrhea can result in infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, infections in newborn children, urethral strictures and scrotal swelling. It also increases one's chance of acquiring and transmitting HIV.

This is certainly not good news, and one we all need to keep our eyes on.

Australia may face untreatable gonorrhoea [ABC News]

Gonorrhoea 'may become untreatable'  [IOL]