Another reason to encourage abstinence amongst teens and singles: The sexually transmitted disease Gonorrhea is becoming increasingly resistant to regularly used antibiotics.
The CDC is now recommending doctors prescribe cephalosporin antibiotics exclusively because the resistance rate to the regularly used antibiotics has risen too high. The CDC has concluded there is now only one class of antibiotics available to predictably treat gonorrhea.
The CDC recommends changing antibiotic choices when 5% of the bacteria cases are resistant. In 2006 approximately 13% of gonorrhea cases nationwide showed resistance with some cities (Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Diego, Honolulu) presenting rates greater than 20% among heterosexual males. 38% of cases amongst homosexual and bisexual men were resistant. This is up from less than 1% on 2001.
Gonorrhea rates are continuing to rise across the country. The CDC recently released a study of gonorrhea rates in 8 western states that should concern all of us. Rates in these states are up 52% from 2000 - 2005. This study found the prevalence of gonorrhea to be 85.6 cases per 100,000 people. There is tremendous disparity between racial groups: Whites: 50.4 cases /100,000; Hispanics 91.1/100,000; Blacks 537.6 cases per 100,000.
Gonorrhea. like other bacterial infections, must be treated with antibiotics. As bugs become resistant, it is vital that drug manufacturers develop new drugs to combat these superbugs. There is concern in the medical community that progress towards new antibiotics is not progressing quickly enough.
Additionally, gonorrhea will cause infertility in up to 10% of infected young and adult women because it attacks the fallopian tubes and uterus. Most women don't rush to be tested for STDs after a sexual encounter but delay in treatment can cause complications to be more severe.
As our young people begin considering their sexual options, we must arm them with facts to inform their decision. In 2005, over 66,000 girls and 28,000 boys aged 10- 19 tested positive for gonorrhea. (See CDC Data) 6600 of these young women will have made a choice that will leave them infertile. Did they know the risks?
The CDC is now recommending doctors prescribe cephalosporin antibiotics exclusively because the resistance rate to the regularly used antibiotics has risen too high. The CDC has concluded there is now only one class of antibiotics available to predictably treat gonorrhea.
The CDC recommends changing antibiotic choices when 5% of the bacteria cases are resistant. In 2006 approximately 13% of gonorrhea cases nationwide showed resistance with some cities (Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Diego, Honolulu) presenting rates greater than 20% among heterosexual males. 38% of cases amongst homosexual and bisexual men were resistant. This is up from less than 1% on 2001.
Gonorrhea rates are continuing to rise across the country. The CDC recently released a study of gonorrhea rates in 8 western states that should concern all of us. Rates in these states are up 52% from 2000 - 2005. This study found the prevalence of gonorrhea to be 85.6 cases per 100,000 people. There is tremendous disparity between racial groups: Whites: 50.4 cases /100,000; Hispanics 91.1/100,000; Blacks 537.6 cases per 100,000.
Gonorrhea. like other bacterial infections, must be treated with antibiotics. As bugs become resistant, it is vital that drug manufacturers develop new drugs to combat these superbugs. There is concern in the medical community that progress towards new antibiotics is not progressing quickly enough.
Additionally, gonorrhea will cause infertility in up to 10% of infected young and adult women because it attacks the fallopian tubes and uterus. Most women don't rush to be tested for STDs after a sexual encounter but delay in treatment can cause complications to be more severe.
As our young people begin considering their sexual options, we must arm them with facts to inform their decision. In 2005, over 66,000 girls and 28,000 boys aged 10- 19 tested positive for gonorrhea. (See CDC Data) 6600 of these young women will have made a choice that will leave them infertile. Did they know the risks?
Labels: Drug Resistant STDs on the Rise
posted by Susan Shogren Smith at
4/13/2007 12:12:00 AM
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