What is the first-line treatment for gonorrhea?

The first-line treatment for gonorrhea is ceftriaxone administered intramuscularly. This choice is based on the current guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which recommend ceftriaxone as the preferred single-agent therapy due to its efficacy against Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacterium responsible for this infection.

Ceftriaxone is a third-generation cephalosporin that exhibits strong activity against gram-negative bacteria, including penicillin-resistant strains of gonorrhea. The choice of an intramuscular route provides the benefit of rapid absorption and peak plasma concentrations, effectively treating the infection.

In addition to ceftriaxone, the CDC also often recommends dual therapy with azithromycin (which could be confused with the first-choice option), however, ceftriaxone remains the primary treatment. Other choices such as doxycycline and ciprofloxacin are not recommended as first-line treatments for gonorrhea. Doxycycline is typically used for other conditions, while ciprofloxacin has shown increasing resistance among gonorrhea strains, making it less effective.