For decades, doctors have used antibiotics to help their patients fight infections. But the efficacy of these drugs has been observed to be on the decline in recent times. This is what medical experts describe as antibiotic resistance.
Now more than ever medical companies need to start to look upstream for new approaches to treat bacterial infections as we are approaching a critical moment where all antibiotics could become obsolete. In other words the future of health is all about going upstream looking for new innovative ways to face the challenges that bacterial resistance is going to give us.
Indeed bacterial resistance is displaying itself in many STDS already. According to Gilmore Health STDs are prevalent and sadly, among the infections that the current medical treatments are becoming less effective against. This is sad because antibiotics are the traditional means of combating these infections.
What STDs exhibit the most resistance to treatment and constitute serious threats to your health? Read on to learn more.
How Resistance Develops
Misuse of antibiotics has been identified as a major factor in the growing incidence of resistance by infective organisms. The use of these drugs without consulting with a medical doctor or failing to use them as directed are causing them to become less effective.
The CDC estimates that at least a minimum of about two million people battle with resistant infections every year in the U.S.
Resistance to antibiotics develops in one of two ways, according to experts. Targeted organisms may produce enzymes that help to neutralize these drugs. They are also known to mutate so that antibiotics no longer have any effects on them.
STDs Becoming Untreatable
Three STIs are considered major threats, because of their resistance to treatment. What’s more worrying is that these are very common infections among the population.
Gonorrhea
This is the most disturbing of all STDs that are becoming more and more untreatable with current options. Caused by the Gram-positive diplococci bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae, gonorrhea affects the genitals, throat and rectum of affected persons. There are more than 800,000 cases in America every year, according to the CDC.
There are increasing reports of resistance to available antibiotics. Older, cheaper antibiotics have become practically useless against the STD. For instance, the WHO no longer advises quinolones for its treatment because of this reason.
Chlamydia
In the United States, this STD is arguably the most common. There are about three million new cases every year in the country. Chlamydia is often present together with gonorrhea.
Consistent with info at Planned Parenthood a burning sensation when peeing and a discharge are among its main symptoms. But some people may show no signs while the infection does damage to their reproductive system unnoticed.
Resistance to treatment is less common with Chlamydia, compared to gonorrhea.
Syphilis
This infection according to the Mayo Clinic is synonymous with chancre sores in its early stages. It spreads through contact with these sores, usually found on the genitals, anus or lips.
Syphilis is the least common of these three resistant STDs. But it can give rise to serious complications if left undiagnosed and untreated. It can damage organs in the body and cause blindness, paralysis or even death.
Are STDs Still Treatable?
The fact that these common infections are becoming resistant to drugs doesn’t mean they cannot be treated anymore. It’s just that treatments are running out and traditional interventions are losing their potency.
In 2016, the WHO released new guidelines on treatment of these resistant STDs. The organization advised doctors to prescribe drugs on the basis of observed resistance patterns in their locality.
A combination of azithromycin and ceftriaxone is advised by the CDC for the treatment of gonorrhea, which is the STD that exhibits the strongest antibiotic resistance currently.