What is an appropriate first-line antibiotic treatment for gonorrhea?

What is an appropriate first-line antibiotic treatment for gonorrhea?

• A. Cefuroxime
• B. Cefixime
• C. Azithromycin
• D. Ceftriaxone

Answer: (D)

Gonorrhea treatment relies on an antibiotic with reliable activity against Neisseria gonorrhoeae and good tissue penetration, while resistance to many drugs has limited options. A third-generation cephalosporin given intramuscularly, ceftriaxone, provides strong, rapid bactericidal activity at mucosal sites and has remained the most dependable first-line choice as resistance to other agents has increased. In practice, this is often used in combination with therapy for possible Chlamydia trachomatis coinfection, such as doxycycline or azithromycin, to cover common co-infections. Other options like cefixime or cefuroxime have shown rising resistance and are no longer reliable first-line choices, and azithromycin alone does not adequately treat gonorrhea due to resistance.

Gonorrhea treatment relies on an antibiotic with reliable activity against Neisseria gonorrhoeae and good tissue penetration, while resistance to many drugs has limited options. A third-generation cephalosporin given intramuscularly, ceftriaxone, provides strong, rapid bactericidal activity at mucosal sites and has remained the most dependable first-line choice as resistance to other agents has increased. In practice, this is often used in combination with therapy for possible Chlamydia trachomatis coinfection, such as doxycycline or azithromycin, to cover common co-infections. Other options like cefixime or cefuroxime have shown rising resistance and are no longer reliable first-line choices, and azithromycin alone does not adequately treat gonorrhea due to resistance.