Comments on: Gay Men at Higher Risk for New MRSA Strain http://biggaynews.com/gay-men-at-higher-risk-for-new-mrsa-strain/1609 Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:42:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Tyffanie Morgan http://biggaynews.com/gay-men-at-higher-risk-for-new-mrsa-strain/1609/comment-page-1#comment-18380 Tyffanie Morgan Fri, 18 Jan 2008 18:36:54 +0000 http://biggaynews.com/gay-men-at-higher-risk-for-new-mrsa-strain/1609#comment-18380 Are you trying to scare me... because it's working! The prospect of a potentially sexually transmitted bacteria which happens to be resistent to multiple drugs is frightening. However, after listening to the whole segment on http://www.annals.org and reading the lay version :) , I realized that this is just preliminary information and more research needs to be done. This information does bring a question to mind. Could the bacteria (both Multi-Drug Resistent and Drug Resistent) be transmitted solely in the clinics rather than internally through the M2M population? I know the physicians had indicated that there was no cases for str8 men with HIV carrying the bacteria. However, I know that many clinics may cater to or have a greater number of gay men who the clinics are provider service for. Perhaps when the paper comes out, this question will be answered. I'm also alarmed at the somewhat casual remark to wash and scrub after sex by both physicians. They quickly corrected themselves indicating that this was only conjecture. I was reminded of AIDS in the early years when there were rampant urban legends and false information advocating different means to prevent HIV infection such as using paper seats on public toilets and washing before and after sex. I hope that the medical community and the queer community have learnt from those early years. I am not advocating to not wash but to be mindful that this is not a cure nor a proven preventative tactic for a potential STI. Are you trying to scare me… because it’s working! The prospect of a potentially sexually transmitted bacteria which happens to be resistent to multiple drugs is frightening. However, after listening to the whole segment on http://www.annals.org and reading the lay version :) , I realized that this is just preliminary information and more research needs to be done.

This information does bring a question to mind. Could the bacteria (both Multi-Drug Resistent and Drug Resistent) be transmitted solely in the clinics rather than internally through the M2M population? I know the physicians had indicated that there was no cases for str8 men with HIV carrying the bacteria. However, I know that many clinics may cater to or have a greater number of gay men who the clinics are provider service for. Perhaps when the paper comes out, this question will be answered.

I’m also alarmed at the somewhat casual remark to wash and scrub after sex by both physicians. They quickly corrected themselves indicating that this was only conjecture. I was reminded of AIDS in the early years when there were rampant urban legends and false information advocating different means to prevent HIV infection such as using paper seats on public toilets and washing before and after sex. I hope that the medical community and the queer community have learnt from those early years. I am not advocating to not wash but to be mindful that this is not a cure nor a proven preventative tactic for a potential STI.

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