Treatment for gonorrhea is one of the medical phenomena that is most researched due to the high drug resistance of its causative agent. Gonnorrhea is among the discharge causing STIs that can infect both men and women, including babies born from an infected mother.  Gonorrhea infected men presents with painful urination and urethral discharge while women shows vaginal discharge and symptoms takes longer to show that in men. This bacterial infection has been in existence even before its officail discovery in 1879. This post will provide an updated treatment regime and prescription for treating gonorrhea. 


Treatment

Gonorrhea treatment in adults


Antibiotics are used in the treatment of adult gonorrhea. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advise treating simple cases of gonorrhea with ceftriaxone due to the emergence of drug-resistant strains of the gonorrhoea-causing bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae. This antibiotic is administered intravenously, or via an injection.

You have up to seven days after taking the medication to continue infecting other people. Thus, refrain from having sex for a minimum of seven days.
Treatment for gonoorrhea
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The CDC also advises repeating a gonorrhea test three months following therapy. This is to ensure that individuals have not contracted the germs again, which can occur if new sexual partners carry the infection or if treatment-seeking partners have not received treatment.

Patients receiving treatment for gonorrhea should have their cases reviewed, particularly if the infection cannot be identified through laboratory testing. Patients should have a new assessment and treatment plan if they don't show any improvement in three days.

Treatment for partners with gonorrhea


Even if your sexual partner or partners over the previous 60 days are symptom-free, they still require screening and treatment. You run the risk of contracting gonorrhea again through sexual contact if you receive treatment for the disease but your partners do not. Don't engage in any sexual activity with your partner until seven days after they've had treatment.

 Patients often have a tendency to not bring their partners along for treatment. As a clinician, be sure to assist them in winning back their partner and to explain the repercussions of their actions. They can say that the prior treatment was ineffective rather than disclosing to you that they had  intercourse with their untreated partner. Make sure they bring their partner along for the gonorrhea treatment.

Gonorrhea treatment for babies


Antibiotics can treat babies who get gonorrhea after being born to an infected mother. For babies with closed eyes due to pus, normal saline can be used to clean them. 


Prescription


Find the detailed drug information for treatment of gonorrhea.

For adults:


1. Ceftriaxone 1g IM stat. 
Or 
2. Cefixime 400mg per oral stat.
Or 
3. Gentamicin 240mg IV stat (This is given to patients only if they are allergic to Cephalosporins).

For children:

Since gonorrhea can infect babies born from infected mothers here is how to treat them. 

1. Ceftriaxone 50mg/kg body weight  IM stat. Use this formular also for treating 17 years olds and below.

References:

1. Zambia National STIs Treatment Guidelines-2022.
2. Mayo clinic.
3. Medscape.
4. National Library Of  Medicine.