Antibiotic-Resistant Gonorrhoea on the Rise

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​Antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea on the rise, new drugs needed
According to the World Health Organization (WHO):

Data from 77 countries show that antibiotic resistance is making gonorrhoea – a common sexually-transmitted infection – much harder, and sometimes impossible, to treat.

​The emergence of multidrug- and cephalosporin-resistant gonorrhea in the United States and worldwide  could make gonorrhea much more difficult to treat.

Management Available For Gonorrhea

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​"The bacteria that cause gonorrhoea are particularly smart. Every time we use a new class of antibiotics to treat the infection, the bacteria evolve to resist them," said Dr Teodora Wi, Medical Officer, Human Reproduction, at WHO.

WHO reports widespread resistance to older and cheaper antibiotics. Some countries – particularly high-income ones, where surveillance is best – are finding cases of the infection that are untreatable by all known antibiotics.

"These cases may just be the tip of the iceberg, since systems to diagnose and report untreatable infections are lacking in lower-income countries where gonorrhoea is actually more common," adds Dr Wi.

Each year, an estimated 78 million people are infected with gonorrhoea*. Gonorrhoea can infect the genitals, rectum, and throat. Complications of gonorrhoea disproportionally affect women, including pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy and infertility, as well as an increased risk of HIV.

Decreasing condom use, increased urbanization and travel, poor infection detection rates, and inadequate or failed treatment all contribute to this increase.

LifeOne protocol May Help

​Is gonorrhea treatable?
Certainly. Conventional treatment for gonorrhea involves taking antibiotics for a certain number of days or weeks. However, this method has proven to be detrimental in the long run, because more and more strains of gonorrhea are becoming antibiotic-resistant.

As an alternative treatment, try using these home remedies that are known for their powerful antimicrobial properties:1

Garlic
This popular cooking ingredient may help fight gonorrhea thanks to its compound called allicin. Allicin works with garlic’s other compounds to become a powerful antibacterial agent that can fight antibiotic-resistant strains.

To gain this benefit, simply add garlic to your diet regularly. You can crush several cloves of garlic as well and directly apply it to the site of infection, then rinse afterward.2

Apple Cider Vinegar
Vinegar’s acidic properties can help eliminate bacteria, and apple cider vinegar happens to be one of the best at this. You can add it to your daily diet to help cleanse your organs. You may also add it to your bathwater and soak in it for several minutes, then rinse afterwards.

In addition, women may soak vinegar into a tampon and insert it into their vagina for a few minutes to help treat vaginal gonorrhea.

Echinacea
A popular flower native to America, Echinacea holds potent antibacterial properties that may help treat gonorrhea. Simply purchase Echinacea essential oil, dilute it in a carrier oil and apply it to the infected area, then rinse after a few minutes.

Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is one of the most popular antibacterial solutions around, and is known to help alleviate various infections.

Women can use it to treat their gonorrhea by adding a few drops of diluted tea tree oil on a tampon and then inserting it into their vagina for a few minutes. For men, you can apply the diluted solution directly on the infected areas.

Aloe Vera
The aloe vera species Barbadensis milla is the only one recommended for gonorrhea treatment, because others may worsen the infection. This is one of the top recommended home remedies for gonorrhea, as it has been proven effective against bacterial infections.

Rosemary
This popular cooking herb contains over 40 antibacterial and 20 antiviral compounds. You can create a rosemary solution by mixing 1 tablespoon of dried rosemary in 1 cup of water, which you must take twice a day.

You may also add fresh rosemary to your diet to receive more of its antibacterial benefits at the same time.3

Yogurt
Live and active cultured yogurt contains healthy bacteria strains that can help fight gonococcal bacteria. Women can coat a tampon with plain homemade yogurt and insert it into their vagina to experience relief from pain and itching. Men may also directly apply it to their infected areas.4

But before you use any of these home remedies, it’s important to consult with your doctor first to check for any adverse effects. If using any of the essential oils, make sure to do a skin patch test first to see if any allergic reactions occur.
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                                                             MORE ABOUT GONORRHEA

​Gonorrhoea Prevention
Gonorrhoea can be prevented through safer sexual behaviour, in particular consistent and correct condom use. Information, education, and communication can promote and enable safer sex practices, improve people’s ability to recognize the symptoms of gonorrhoea and other sexually transmitted infections, and increase the likelihood they will seek care. Today, lack of public awareness, lack of training of health workers, and stigma around sexually transmitted infections remain barriers to greater and more effective use of these interventions.

There are no affordable, rapid, point-of-care diagnostic tests for gonorrhoea. Many people who are infected with gonorrhoea do not have any symptoms, so they go undiagnosed and untreated. On the other hand, however, when patients do have symptoms, such as discharge from the urethra or the vagina, doctors often assume it is gonorrhoea and prescribe antibiotics – even though people may be suffering from another kind of infection. The overall inappropriate use of antibiotics increases the development of antibiotic resistance in gonorrhoea as well as other bacterial diseases.

​“To control gonorrhoea, we need new tools and systems for better prevention, treatment, earlier diagnosis, and more complete tracking and reporting of new infections, antibiotic use, resistance and treatment failures,” said Dr Marc Sprenger, Director of Antimicrobial Resistance at WHO. “Specifically, we need new antibiotics, as well as rapid, accurate, point-of-care diagnostic tests – ideally, ones that can predict which antibiotics will work on that particular infection – and longer term, a vaccine to prevent gonorrhoea.

​Sources:

• Antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae: Global surveillance and a call for international collaborative action
  Lead author: Dr Teodora Wi, WHO, Department of Reproductive Health
• Multidrug-resistant gonorrhoea: A research and development roadmap to discover new medicines (PDF)
  Lead author: Dr Emilie Alirol, GARDP/DNDi

​At the STI & HIV World Congress, WHO will host a session on “Tackling antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae: Need for a comprehensive and collaborative approach”.

More about gonorrhoea

• Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP)
• Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance

​Gonorrhea: An Introduction
What is Gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea vs Chlamydia
Gonorrhea Duration
 

​Causes of Gonorrhea
Types of Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea Symptoms
Gonorrhea Test
 

​Gonorrhea Treatment
Gonorrhea Prevention
Gonorrhea FAQ

​Gonorrhea can be asymptomatic, but when symptoms do appear, they’re often uncomfortable and embarrassing. Fortunately, it is preventable, as long as certain precautionary practices are followed, such as:1

Getting Regular Testing for Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
Sexually active men and women are recommended to undergo testing for STDs annually. This helps prevent the spread of the infection unknowingly, especially to those who have a new partner or multiple partners.
Ask your partner to undergo testing as well so that if he or she has contracted gonorrhea unknowingly, the infection won’t spread.

Practicing Safe Sex
Asking your male partner to use condoms is one of the best ways to avoid getting gonorrhea. This will also prevent you from getting other forms of STDs or having an unplanned pregnancy.

Refusing Sex From Someone Who Has Symptoms
If your partner exhibits symptoms of gonorrhea, such as a pus-like discharge coming out of their genitals, don’t have sex and ask him or her to undergo testing for STDs.

Not Sharing Sex Toys
If you and your partner incorporate sex toys in your relationship, do not share them as they can become carriers of gonorrhea-causing bacteria. Thoroughly clean and/or cover them with a condom before using to lower your chances of spreading an infection.2

Confirming That the Infection Has Been Cured
If you’re currently undergoing treatment for gonorrhea, strictly follow your doctor’s treatment until the program is finished. After one week, return to your doctor to undergo another test to check if bacteria are still in your system.

Having your doctor confirm you’re cleared of gonorrhea is the last step before having sex again, because there’s a possibility the treatment didn’t work and gonococcal bacteria are still inside you.

Using Ointment on Newborns
Mothers who have gonorrhea will need to get their newborns checked for possible infections. Infants may contract the bacteria as they exit the womb, so an infant-friendly ointment must be used on their eyes.

A Nutritious Diet May Help Prevent Gonorrhea
Your diet plays a big role in preventing gonorrhea. A weak immune system can basically allow gonorrhea to spread unchecked. Try to incorporate these three important nutrients into your diet to boost your defense against gonorrhea:3

•Vitamin C: This vitamin is one of the most essential antioxidants that can help prevent various diseases and boost your immune system. Fruit sources of this nutrient include orange, lemon and grapefruit. For vegetables, you have eggplant, carrot and lettuce.

•Vitamin A: This vitamin is fat-soluble, which means it’s stored in your liver for longer periods of time compared to water-soluble vitamins. It has several important functions, such as helping improve tissue repair, good vision and most importantly, keeping your skin and mucous membranes healthy. Apple, avocado, banana, garlic, asparagus and cucumber are good vitamin A sources.

​•Zinc: This mineral is important to help absorb vitamin A effectively. You can get zinc from foods such as onion, almond, peach, radish and cashew.