Treponema pallidum

Treponema pallidum is a parasitic spirochaete bacterium. There are different kinds of Treponema pallidum, which cause diseases like syphilis, bejel, pinta and yaws.

Treponema pallidum
Treponema pallidum.jpg
Scientific classification
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T. pallidum
Binomial name
Treponema pallidum

The most common disease caused by Treponema pallidum is syphilis, a serious sexually transmitted infection.

Syphilis is treated and cured by taking antibiotics. Usually, the first treatment used is penicillin.[1] Antibiotic resistance has developed to a number of agents.[2] Ceftriaxone, a third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic, may be as effective as penicillin-based treatment.[3]

Pennicilin is still effective, but "the potential of this spirochete to develop additional antibiotic resistance could seriously compromise syphilis treatment and control".[2]

References

  1. David N. Gilbert; Robert C. Moellering; George M. Eliopoulos. The Sanford guide to antimicrobial therapy 2011 (41st ed.). Sperryville, VA: Antimicrobial Therapy. p. 22. ISBN 978-1-930808-65-2. {{cite book}}: Invalid |display-authors=3 (help); Unknown parameter |author-separator= ignored (help)
  2. 2.0 2.1 Stamm L.V. 2010. Global challenge of antibiotic-resistant Treponema pallidum. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 54 (2): 583–9. [1]
  3. Kent M.E. & Romanelli F. 2008. Reexamining syphilis: an update on epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and management. Ann Pharmacother 42 (2): 226–36. [2]