Which antibiotic is the drug of choice for treating gonorrhea?

Which antibiotic is the drug of choice for treating gonorrhea?

• A. Ceftriaxone
• B. Azithromycin
• C. Benzathine penicillin
• D. Imiquimod

Answer: (A)

Gonorrhea requires an antibiotic with reliable activity against Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the face of growing resistance, and a drug that provides dependable, easy-to-administer therapy. Ceftriaxone, a third-generation cephalosporin given as a single intramuscular dose, has the best evidence for effectively curing gonorrhea across common sites (urethral, cervical, pharyngeal, and disseminated infection) and remains the preferred choice because many older antibiotics have lost their effectiveness due to resistance. Azithromycin has been used in the past, but resistance to macrolides has risen, making it less reliable as monotherapy for gonorrhea. Benzathine penicillin is no longer effective because many Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains produce penicillinase or have other resistance mechanisms. Imiquimod is an immune-modulating cream used for other infections like HPV-related lesions and is not used to treat gonorrhea.

Gonorrhea requires an antibiotic with reliable activity against Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the face of growing resistance, and a drug that provides dependable, easy-to-administer therapy. Ceftriaxone, a third-generation cephalosporin given as a single intramuscular dose, has the best evidence for effectively curing gonorrhea across common sites (urethral, cervical, pharyngeal, and disseminated infection) and remains the preferred choice because many older antibiotics have lost their effectiveness due to resistance.

Azithromycin has been used in the past, but resistance to macrolides has risen, making it less reliable as monotherapy for gonorrhea. Benzathine penicillin is no longer effective because many Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains produce penicillinase or have other resistance mechanisms. Imiquimod is an immune-modulating cream used for other infections like HPV-related lesions and is not used to treat gonorrhea.