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STDs (Expert Forum)
Treatment for Gonorrhea
Answered by
Edward W Hook, MD - HIV Prevention, stds
This forum does not cover AIDS/HIV issues. This forum is for questions and support regarding STD issues such as: Chlamydia, Crabs (pubic lice scabies), Gonorrhea, Hepatitis (viral), Herpes, HPV, Molluscum Contagiosum, PID, Rectal Infections, Syphilis, Trichomonas, Warts, Yeast Infection.
IMPORTANT
This forum is limited to questions about STDs other than HIV/AIDS. For questions about HIV prevention, or if you have general questions about safe sex (e.g., condoms, how to protect yourself from HIV and STDs), please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum
Some of the most common types of questions concern the risk of HIV or STD after a particular sexual exposure, and about symptoms that might or might not be due to HIV. If your question is along these lines, please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum.
This forum is limited to questions about STDs other than HIV/AIDS. For questions about HIV prevention, or if you have general questions about safe sex (e.g., condoms, how to protect yourself from HIV and STDs), please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum
Some of the most common types of questions concern the risk of HIV or STD after a particular sexual exposure, and about symptoms that might or might not be due to HIV. If your question is along these lines, please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum.
Treatment for Gonorrhea
by danny1975, Mar 16, 2008 08:21PM
This question is a bit different from the ones usually posted on this site. It's been something I've been wondering for some time, and can't find an answer to.
Why, regardless of the antibiotic used, is gonorrhea treated with a single dose? I'm not a doctor, but single-dose antibiotic treatments seem rare; almost every other infection (whether sexual or not) is treated with a multiple dose regimen. (Chlamydia can be treated with a single dose of azithromycin, but the other regimens for it are all multi-dose.) Every time I have a sinus infection or other infection, the doctor lectures me about taking the whole course of treatment, even if I feel better, in order to prevent the development of resistant bacteria.
So why is gonorrhea different? And does this single-dose approach a contributing factor to gonorrhea's remarkable ability eventually to develop resistant to every antibiotic that has been used to treat it?
Obviously, this has no direct clinical significance for me. It's a matter of intense academic curiosity--but I'd greater appreciate the doctors' thoughts.
Why, regardless of the antibiotic used, is gonorrhea treated with a single dose? I'm not a doctor, but single-dose antibiotic treatments seem rare; almost every other infection (whether sexual or not) is treated with a multiple dose regimen. (Chlamydia can be treated with a single dose of azithromycin, but the other regimens for it are all multi-dose.) Every time I have a sinus infection or other infection, the doctor lectures me about taking the whole course of treatment, even if I feel better, in order to prevent the development of resistant bacteria.
So why is gonorrhea different? And does this single-dose approach a contributing factor to gonorrhea's remarkable ability eventually to develop resistant to every antibiotic that has been used to treat it?
Obviously, this has no direct clinical significance for me. It's a matter of intense academic curiosity--but I'd greater appreciate the doctors' thoughts.
Doctor's Answer
by Edward W Hook, MD, Mar 16, 2008 08:28PM
, Mar 16, 2008 08:28PM
To: danny1975
Gonorrhea is an infection of mucosal surfaces casued by a very rapidly dividing bacteria (every 15 minutes). The combination of the location and the rapid division time of the bacteria once the infection is established makes it very susceptible to single does therapy by a variety of antibiotics which, in general, tend to stay in the body quite a while.
In contract, the life cycle of chlamydia is slower, with the life cycle of the bacteria taking 36 hours.
Hope this makes sense. EWH
In contract, the life cycle of chlamydia is slower, with the life cycle of the bacteria taking 36 hours.
Hope this makes sense. EWH
