Latebreakers: CDC updates gonorrhea treatment guide

Fluoroquinolones are no longer recommended for thetreatment of gonorrhea according to a recent update toCDC’s Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines,2006. The preferred therapy is now a 125-mg dose ofceftriaxone given by intramuscular (IM) injection for uncomplicatedgonococcal infections of the cervix, urethra,and rectum. Alternative regimens available in the U.S.include single-dose ceftizoxime (Cefizox, Astellas) 500mg IM, cefoxitin 2 gm IM with 1 gm of probenecid, orcefotaxime 500 mg IM. Asingle IM dose of ceftriaxone125 mg should be used to treat uncomplicated gonococcalinfections of the pharynx, according to the newguidelines. The update can be found on-line at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5614a3.htm.