As one of the most prevalent Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in United States America, Gonorrhea is reported to affect 820,000 Americans each year (Sutton, 2006). This is only the reported amount of cases each year; many cases go unreported (Sutton, 2006). It is a disease we have known about for years. While it is preventable and curable, it can also be deadly if not treated or caught in time. Gonorrhea is a STI we know a great deal about, yet not everyone knows it's, symptoms, how it's transmitted and what treatments and cures are available. Gonorrhea is caused by the bacteria known as Neisseria gonorrhoeae, also known as gonococci in its plural form or gonococcus in its singular form (Marr, 1998). German physician Albert Neisser
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This may not always be the case however. Many of the more common strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae are becoming more resilient to modern medicine (“What to do,” 2013). This is not the first time the bacteria has become resilient to medicine (“What to do,” 2013). In the past it used to be that gonorrhea was curable with tetracycline, fluroquinolones or penicillin (“What to do,” 2013). Now these antibiotics are not used, as most strains are resistant to them (“What to do,” 2013). In recent years ceftriaxone, with a combination of doxycycline or azithromycin was the first line of defense against gonorrhea (“What to do,” 2013). But slowly cases are popping up where the disease is not being cured from the antibiotic. Now it is not always the recommended treatment to be used (“What to do,” 2013). If it is used the person needs to be tested a week later, to be sure that the bacteria is out of the body (“What to do,” …show more content…
But as more and more cases arise and more cures are administered, this may not always be the case. The bacteria as a whole are slowly but surely becoming resistant to different treatment options available (“What to do,” 2013). Since different strains are more prevalent in different areas, certain antibiotics to combat the bacteria will start to be significantly more common in certain areas (Turner et al., 2014). For instance, while certain strains unaffected by fluroquinolones are seen in the United States, the strain is a lot more common in certain areas of Asia (Turner et al., 2014). While strains with increased resistance from azithromycin are more prevalent in the United States compared to Asia (Turner et al., 2014).
In conclusion, gonorrhea is a disease we have known about for years and because of that we know a lot about it. It is possible to prevent infection and to be cured if infected. Although it is curable for now, more research needs to go into finding different antibiotics to combat the resistant strains so it can be cured. As of now if people keep safe sex in mind and try to stay monogamous they reduce their chances of infection and they may never have to worry about there not being a
This may not always be the case however. Many of the more common strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae are becoming more resilient to modern medicine (“What to do,” 2013). This is not the first time the bacteria has become resilient to medicine (“What to do,” 2013). In the past it used to be that gonorrhea was curable with tetracycline, fluroquinolones or penicillin (“What to do,” 2013). Now these antibiotics are not used, as most strains are resistant to them (“What to do,” 2013). In recent years ceftriaxone, with a combination of doxycycline or azithromycin was the first line of defense against gonorrhea (“What to do,” 2013). But slowly cases are popping up where the disease is not being cured from the antibiotic. Now it is not always the recommended treatment to be used (“What to do,” 2013). If it is used the person needs to be tested a week later, to be sure that the bacteria is out of the body (“What to do,” …show more content…
But as more and more cases arise and more cures are administered, this may not always be the case. The bacteria as a whole are slowly but surely becoming resistant to different treatment options available (“What to do,” 2013). Since different strains are more prevalent in different areas, certain antibiotics to combat the bacteria will start to be significantly more common in certain areas (Turner et al., 2014). For instance, while certain strains unaffected by fluroquinolones are seen in the United States, the strain is a lot more common in certain areas of Asia (Turner et al., 2014). While strains with increased resistance from azithromycin are more prevalent in the United States compared to Asia (Turner et al., 2014).
In conclusion, gonorrhea is a disease we have known about for years and because of that we know a lot about it. It is possible to prevent infection and to be cured if infected. Although it is curable for now, more research needs to go into finding different antibiotics to combat the resistant strains so it can be cured. As of now if people keep safe sex in mind and try to stay monogamous they reduce their chances of infection and they may never have to worry about there not being a