Gonococcal arthritis
Treatment:
There are two aspects of treating a sexually transmitted
disease, especially one as easily spread as gonorrhea.
The first aspect is to cure the affected person. The second
is to locate and test all of the other sexual contacts and
to treat them to prevent further spread of the disease. That
is why mandatory reporting has been instituted and has, until
recently, held the number of cases of gonorrhea at a low level.
However, the incidence
is once again rising.
Beginning about the time of the Viet Nam war the United States
saw the appearance of penicillin- and tetracycline-resistant
strains of gonorrhea. These resistant strains have been increasing
over the last few years. Because of this a new standardized
treatment regimen has now been recommended by the Centers
for Disease Control (CDC). Instead of the standard penicillin
treatment, gonorrhea is now treated by a large number of new
and very potent antibiotics.
These treatment regimens include:
INJECTIONS:
Ceftriaxone 125 mg IM (injected into a muscle)
Spectinomycin 2 grams IM (injected into a muscle)
ORAL (by mouth) one-time dose:
Cefixime 400 mg
Ciprofloxacin 500 mg
Ofloxacin 400 mg
Cefuroxime Axotal 1 gram
Cefpodoxime proxetil 200 mg
Enoxacin 400 mg
ORAL (by mouth) multiple dose:
Erythromycin 500 mg, four times per day, for one week
(Note: mg = milligrams)
A follow-up visit 7 days after treatment to recheck cultures
and confirm the cure of infection is important.
Expectations (prognosis):
Symptoms usually improve within 24 to 48 hours after initiation
of treatment. Complete recovery is anticipated with treatment.
Complications:
Untreated, there may be:
- persistent discomfort
- other gonorrhea
complications, such as disseminated gonorrhea (spread throughout
the body)
Calling your health care provider:
Call your health care provider if you experience symptoms
suggestive of gonococcal arthritis.
Updated Date: 02/09/00
Updated By:J. Gordon Lambert, MD, Associate Medical Director,
Utah Health Informatics and adam.com
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