Free testing services have been increased and clinicians and lab specialists are particularly concerned that the emergent strain of gonorrhoea is showing early signs of drug resistance.
Dr Nicky Perkins, Clinical Director Auckland Regional Sexual Health Service, says testing is critical for gay and bisexual men. “Auckland Sexual Health Services and the New Zealand AIDS Foundation (NZAF) have significantly increased their capacity to test men for gonorrhoea in response to this issue” she says. “Gonorrhoea can infect a man’s penis, rectum or even throat and unfortunately, most men won’t have any obvious symptoms for rectal or throat infections”.
The free testing available through both the NZAF and Auckland Sexual Health Service and will include an innovative rectal self-swab procedure. Dr Perkins says “The organisations that are providing this service needed a way to test men in a way that was fast and acceptable to them. We can get accurate results through self-swabbing and also increase the number of people who will have access to the free testing services.”
Although she is concerned about the trend, Dr Perkins says the news is not all bad. “The strain of gonorrhoea that’s going around Auckland’s gay men’s communities right now should be taken seriously because it is showing some early signs it’s not as susceptible to the treatments that currently exist. However, at this point we still have treatment options available that will completely cure gonorrhoea – all a man needs to do get treated is to get tested.”
It is difficult to prevent the spread of gonorrhoea but using condoms and lube for anal sex is an extremely effective way to prevent rectal gonorrhoea. A campaign promoting testing for gonorrhoea for gay and bisexual men will soon be seen in Auckland’s gay bars and venues. The campaign is a joint initiative on behalf of the NZAF, Auckland Sexual Health Services and Lab Plus and with support from the Ministry of Health.
To book a test go to www.gonorrhoeaisback.org.nz
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For comment on the discovery of this trend please contact:
Dr Sally Roberts
Clinical Head of Microbiology Auckland District Health Board
p | 307 4949 ext 2044
c | 021 674 140
For general comment about gonorrhoea and testing please contact:
Dr Nicky Perkins
Clinical Director Auckland Regional Sexual Health Service
p | 307 4949 ext 27769
c | 021 655 265
