In a groundbreaking study, researchers have discovered that an antibiotic typically prescribed for urinary tract infections (UTIs) may also serve as an effective treatment for gonorrhoea, including some drug-resistant cases. This revelation comes as a critical development in the fight against this sexually transmitted infection (STI), which is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

The symptoms of gonorrhoea can be distressing and include a painful sensation during urination and unusual discharge from the penis or vagina. If ignored, the infection poses serious health risks, including infertility and complications during pregnancy, such as premature birth.

Currently, the first-line treatment for gonorrhoea involves an injection of ceftriaxone, the last remaining antibiotic that is effective against the majority of N. gonorrhoeae strains. However, the emergence of ceftriaxone-resistant strains, particularly in regions like Asia, has raised alarms among health professionals. Vanessa Allen, a researcher at the University of Toronto, noted, We know drug-resistant strains will spread elsewhere. In fact, weve already seen this with cases in North America and Europe that were imported from Asia.

As the situation stands, should ceftriaxone fail to cure the infection, the World Health Organization (WHO) suggests a second-line treatment involving different classes of antibiotics. However, Allen warns that it is only a matter of time before bacteria evolve to become completely untreatable, a challenge that underscores the urgency for new therapeutic options.

In pursuit of a viable alternative, Caroline Perry and her team at GlaxoSmithKline, based in Pennsylvania, conducted a comprehensive study involving approximately 400 individuals diagnosed with infections caused by N. gonorrhoeae. About half of these participants were given two oral doses of an antibiotic known as gepotidacin, which has been primarily used for UTIs and is not currently recommended for treating gonorrhoea, despite showing potential in preliminary trials.

The other half received a standard treatment: a single injection of ceftriaxone alongside an oral dose of azithromycin, a different antibiotic class. Although the combination of azithromycin with ceftriaxone is not typically endorsed by the WHO, it provides a more robust benchmark against which to evaluate gepotidacins effectiveness, according to Allen.

After a follow-up period of four to eight days, the research team analyzed swabs taken from 370 participants, with the remainder unable to provide valid samples due to dropout or sample quality issues. Remarkably, the results indicated that both treatment regimens successfully eradicated the infections in all participants.

Its incredibly promising, Allen expressed. It shows a new treatment thats highly effective and is far easier to administer than the current antibiotic given via injection.

While the study did not include individuals with ceftriaxone-resistant infections, gepotidacin operates through a distinct mechanism by inhibiting the replication of the bacteriums DNA, in contrast to ceftriaxone, which dismantles the bacteriums outer structure. This difference in action may suggest that strains capable of resisting ceftriaxone might not yet possess the ability to counteract gepotidacin, Allen explained.

Nevertheless, Allen cautioned that if gepotidacin becomes a widely used treatment option, N. gonorrhoeae would likely develop resistance to it over time. Therefore, it is crucial to pursue additional strategies to manage this STI, such as developing a vaccine to prevent infections altogether. Furthermore, she emphasized the importance of identifying which strains of gonorrhoea individuals carry before prescribing antibiotics, as this practice could significantly mitigate the inappropriate use of these medications and help combat rising resistance rates.