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The Latest Superbug Is a Super-Scary STD

by Jacqueline Burt on August 10, 2012 at 2:03 PM

the clapHope you picked up one of those free vibrators before the sex toy giveaway got shut down, because sex just got scarier than ever: The latest disease to achieve "superbug" status is -- suprise! -- gonorrhea. Apparently the STD has slowly grown resistant to EVERY antibiotic used to treat it except for one (injections of the ceftriaxone, followed up with oral doses of either zithromycin or doxycycline), and it's only a "matter of time" before that stops working, too. At which point, theoretically, lots more people will be forced to deal with nasty consequences including infertility, increased susceptibility to HIV, and even death.

Considering approximately 700,000 Americans contract gonorrhea every year, this is kind of really bad news. (Yikes, maybe we really SHOULD give up those bikini waxes!)

So how are people supposed to protect themselves from this new bionic strain of gonorrhea (besides growing 70's porn star-style pubes)? Perhaps you've heard of these nifty little devices called condoms? Look, you know the drill. Unprotected sex = bad times, especially now. But until somebody invents a magical multi-purpose STD vaccine, well, that's that.

Incidentally, what doctors really need somebody to invent are new antibiotics to replace the ones that don't work anymore, but unfortunately, "their short-term usage makes them less appealing to pharmaceutical companies than drugs that must be taken over the course of a lifetime."

Or, in other words, pharmaceutical companies don't want to waste time making drugs that won't make them enormous profits. (Thanks, guys!)

Clap on, clap off, clap on, clap off ... The Clap is back!

Do antibiotic-resistant superbugs scare you?

 

Image via Eric E Castro/Flickr

Filed Under: general health, illness

Comments

8
  • KA
    -- Nonmember comment from

    KA

    August 10, 2012 at 2:35 PM
    Did I miss something? What does a bikini wax have to do with an STD?? Also, if those people who had contracted this STD had actually taken the full course of antibiotics we might not be in this mess. Many people stop taking their prescriptions once it seems the infection has cleared.
  • gigimama
    -- Nonmember comment from

    gigimama

    August 10, 2012 at 2:53 PM
    Stating what should be obvious: Monogamy. Gonorrhea is still around because people have little crowns on their genitals and do whatever they say.
  • Evaly...
    --

    EvalynCarnate

    August 10, 2012 at 3:24 PM

    Condoms and Monogamy! I dont mean to sound like a bitch here, but more women (and MEN) than not these days prance around like ingnorant sluts. Yolo, indeed, bitches :-p


  • hotrd...
    --

    hotrdumommy

    August 10, 2012 at 5:42 PM

    I agree. Monogamy and Condoms prevent ugly little messes like this from happening. Bed hopping (especially without protection) is not cute. It's not chic. It's not what's in style. Wrap it up or keep it to your self.


  • Jespren
    --

    Jespren

    August 10, 2012 at 9:31 PM
    Gee, if only there were a sure-fire way to avoid getting an STD...oh, wait, there is! Stop sleeping around and save the sex for the life-long monogamous marriage and you'll never have to worry about a superbug attacking your private parts. What a concept!
  • Meg...
    -- Facebook comment from

    Meg Moore

    August 12, 2012 at 2:18 PM
    wrap it before you tap it.
  • Bozot...
    -- Nonmember comment from

    BozotheeClown

    August 25, 2012 at 9:06 PM
    "Do antibiotic-resistant superbugs scare you?" No, but you do!
  • marabie
    --

    marabie

    August 26, 2012 at 12:05 PM

    Here's an idea! Maybe PEOPLE should quit over using antibiotics and the situation would get better or at least evolution would slow down!  The knowledge exists but people are ignorant. Antibiotic research is at a stand still because SUPRISE nature is still smarter than us. Educate yourself with the mechanisms of microbes and their amazing ability to transfer genes, evolve, ect and don't count on a magic pill to make something go away.


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