Registration required for gonorrhea and chlamydia

Doctors plead for an expansion of the reporting requirements for sexually transmitted diseases

07/30/2012

Not least due to the significant increase in gonorrhea in some federal states over the last ten years, there has been a discussion for some time about a reporting obligation for gonorrhea, but also for other venereal diseases, such as infections with so-called chlamydia. The latter are especially dangerous as they often go undetected.

In view of the demands of physicians and infection experts for the introduction of a reporting obligation for gonorrhea and chlamydia, there is much to be said for the corresponding legal provisions to be adopted, Dr. Viviane Bremer, Expert of the Department of Infection Epidemiology of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in Berlin opposite the „Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung“ (FAS). According to the information of the infection epidemiologist, the obligation to report only HIV and syphilis should be extended to gonorrhea and chlamydia. „We need nationwide data on infection and resistance“, stressed the RKI expert in conversation with the „FAS“.

Extension of the obligation to report gonorrhea and chlamydia
Not only the growing number of gonorrhea infections, but also the spread of multidrug resistant gonococci (gonococci), epidemiologists are increasingly concerned. „We have to get an overview of the situation in Germany“, so Dr. Bremer. According to the expert, the potential introduction of a reporting obligation is currently underway „Discussions with the Federal Ministry of Health“ guided. In their opinion, the signs are good that there may soon be a reporting obligation for gonorrhea and chlamydia in Germany. Extending the reporting obligation for sexually transmitted diseases. According to Norbert Brockmeyer, head of the Center for Sexual Health of the University Clinic Bochum, (sexually transmitted diseases, STD or sexually transmitted infections, STI) would also contribute to the protection of the population. Although many taboos have fallen in the past decades in dealing with STDs, there is still no real openness. „Especially not when it comes to sexual diseases“, so Brockmeyer opposite the „FAS“. In his view, a duty to report and document gonococci and chlamydia is urgently required.

Resistant gonorrhea bacteria complicate the treatment
A gonorrhagic infection is in most cases easy to recognize by its conspicuous symptoms. In men, itching urethritis with purulent discharge and painful urination are typical signs of gonorrhea. Women rarely have inflammation of the cervix, vaginal mucosa or Bartholin's glands. Also, an untreated gonorrhea can lead to the spread of bacteria in the organism and at worst to life-threatening gonococcal sepsis (blood poisoning). Tripper is usually treated relatively well with antibiotics, but the increased incidence of resistance is a problem here.

Chlamydia infections most common sexually transmitted disease
Genital infections with chlamydia (chlamydioses) often go undetected in contrast to gonorrhea. In fact, chlamydia infections are the most prevalent sexually transmitted bacterial infectious disease in Europe, according to experts in Europe, but they are often not noticed by affected women in particular. In men Chlamydia infections include inflammation of the urethra, prostate and epididymis. Also in women, the pathogens affect the urethra and possibly the mucous membrane of the cervix. From here, the infection can migrate towards the fallopian tube, gluing it and thus leading to infertility. If a fertilized egg is prevented by the glued fallopian tube on its way to the uterus, threatened so-called fallopian tube pregnancies, which can bring further health complications. If not treated, chlamydiosis can also result in female infertility.

Condoms protect against sexually transmitted diseases
According to the experts, the best protection against gonorrhea and chlamydia is condom contraception. These also protect against other sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV, syphilis or human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. The latter are considered to be a potential trigger for cervical cancer and are a growing problem, especially in developing countries. (Fp)

Also read about sexually transmitted diseases:
Antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea discovered in Japan
White blood cells in the urine

Picture credits: Tomizak