STI: an old antibiotic used as a preventative pill?

Old antibiotics against sexually transmitted infections? Faced with the resurgence of some sexually transmitted diseases – 2.5 million people in 2021 in the United States were infected: health authorities are looking for new drugs to fight the wave of positive cases.

And it seems that the doxycycline, an antibiotic developed several decades ago, could act as preventative medicine. According to the results of several clinical studies, it would reduce the risk of infection with three diseases: chlamydiaThere gonorrhea and the syphilis.

80% fewer chlamydia and syphilis infections

Usually an antibiotic used for acne, Lyme disease or even malaria, doxycycline, introduced decades ago, can have infection-reducing effects when taken after unprotected sex.

In the context of this clinical trial, its effectiveness is clear: it would reduce chlamydia and syphilis infections by 80% and gonorrhea by 55%. Side effects are few, as the clinical trial was conducted on 500 gay men and transgender women.

Already on the black market

Therefore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is the main federal health agency in the United States, is responsible for making a decision on the new recommendations. These are due to be released this summer and will likely only target groups considered most at risk by LGBTQI+ communities.

Read also: IST : Why remember his elders projects after a positive screening (and how overcome the shame)

For the researcher Annie Luetkemeyer, on the initiative of this latest clinical trial, doxycycline will not be the only answer to the epidemic of sexually transmitted infections. According to her, the development of a vaccine against gonorrhea would still be very useful. ” But I’m optimistic, I think it’s one more tool “, she said.

The noise surrounding this new drug does not fall on deaf ears. According toFrench media agencythis news spread very quickly and an official of a London cultural organization, who testified on condition of anonymity, said buy doxycycline on the black marketthis drug is available by prescription only.

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