Minimizing Drug Resistant Cases of Gonorrhea through Cost-Effective Treatment Plans

Gonorrhea, caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae, is the second most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) with a reported 87 million new cases worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Gonorrhea has developed resistance to multiple treatment therapies within the past century due to the introduction and misuse of antibiotics. This develops a posing threat of an untreatable infection of drug resistant gonorrhea and a global health crisis. We aim to study a comprehensive treatment strategy with respect to drug resistance in gonorrhea and cost effectiveness. We develop a mathematical model of gonorrhea’s resistance to the two dual treatments recommended by the WHO, ceftriaxone with azithromycin and cefixime with azithromycin. Our cost benefit analysis compares several suggested treatment plans to minimize the emergence of drug resistance. We numerically simulate our model and analyze the reproductive number based on estimated parameters. As a result this study found that the costs are minimized if more than 50 % of individuals are successfully treated.