Few Treatment Options Remain for Gonorrhea
Apr 13, 2007 - 2:35:55 AM , Reviewed by: Dr. Venkat
Yelamanchili
New treatment recommendations are critical if we are to continue to
see progress in controlling gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is the second most commonly reported infectious disease
in the United States after chlamydia. In 2005, 339,593 cases were
reported nationwide, although experts believe the actual number of
cases may be twice that. Following a substantial decline in
national gonorrhea rates from 1975 to 1997, overall rates appear to
have leveled off in recent years.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) no longer
recommends antibiotics known as fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin,
ofloxacin, and levofloxacin) as a treatment for gonorrhea in the
United States. This limits the options available to treat
gonorrhea, one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in
the United States.
Resistant gonorrhea spreading in US
