Look out, world — chlamydia’s getting clever, along with a whole host of other STIs. About a million people sexually transmit an infection every day around the world, according to the World Health Organization, and a lot of them are becoming harder to treat.
The primary concerns are chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. All three are developing increasing resistance to anti-bacterial drugs, in part because doctors are prescribing them too much and patients aren’t taking them correctly.
The consequences of an untreated infection can be severe, and can also expose people to a greater risk of transmitting HIV. The WHO is recommending that local officials monitor infection rates more closely, and advise doctors when they see something unusual in transmission rates. Than could help prevent over-prescription, and might indicate where more intervention is needed to ensure compliance by patients.
The WHO also said that doctors should concentrate their anti-syphilis efforts on one particular drug, known as benzathine penicillin. You may be familiar with that one — it’s one of those grueling shots that goes into your butt.
And of course, there remains an even more sure-fire way to slow infection rates: safe sex. Condoms are the best line of defense when hooking up, as well as frequent testing and disclosing your status.
Kangol
This is probably one of the most important articles you’ve posted in a while. While PrEP seems very effective against HIV, it doesn’t help against these STIs, and if they’re becoming antibiotic resistant, neither will the standard treatments people have turned to.
This news is another warning bell for sexually active gay, bi and trans men of all ages to:
1) use condoms whenever possible and negotiate risk;
2) get tested for STIs regularly, and
3) urge medical professionals and the food industry to reduce their mis- and overuse of antibiotics, which only fuels drug resistance, as well as a host of other problems on the farm animals, the environment and on the human beings who consume the dosed up food products.
Jack Meoff
I have to agree with @Kangol: this is a wake up call to all the bare backers out there. Thanks Benji Douglas for an article of relevance and use to Queerty readers.
Billy Budd
Ive never barebacked and never will. I have trouble reaching orgasm with condoms but that is part of life. Be safe, guys.
Masc Pride
This is just the beginning. With all the guys out there taking PrEP as a free pass to bareback indiscriminately, we’ll be seeing new strains of lots of stuff. The HIV scare of the early 80’s will happen again with something new, and of course gay men will be the willful poster boys.