Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Background

Clinical Features

Differential Diagnosis

Sexually transmitted diseases


Vesiculobullous rashes

Febrile

Afebrile

Evaluation

Workup

  • Dependent upon the infected organ
  • PCR or culture on Thayer-Martin agar (most common)

Management

General Antibiotic Guidelines

Gonococcal infections of the cervix, urethra, or rectum (uncomplicated)[1]

Standard

Ceftriaxone contraindicated

^Cefixime only

Uncomplicated gonococcal infections of the pharynx:[2]

Ceftriaxone 500 mg IM as a single dose for persons weighing <150 kg (300 lb).

  • For persons weighing ≥150 kg (300 lb), 1 g of IM ceftriaxone should be administered.
  • If chlamydia coinfection is identified when pharyngeal gonorrhea testing is performed, providers should treat for chlamydia with doxycycline 100 mg orally twice a day for 7 days. During pregnancy, azithromycin 1 g as a single dose is recommended to treat chlamydia.
  • No reliable alternative treatments are available for pharyngeal gonorrhea. For persons with a history of a beta-lactam allergy, a thorough assessment of the reaction is recommended.[3]
  • For persons with an anaphylactic or other severe reaction (e.g., Stevens Johnson syndrome) to ceftriaxone, consult an infectious disease specialist for an alternative treatment recommendation.

Specific Disease Processes

Antibiotic Sensitivities[4]

Category Antibiotic N. gonorrhoeae
Penicillins Penicillin G 0
Penicillin V 0
Anti-Staphylocccal Penicillins Methicillin 0
Nafcillin/Oxacillin 0
Dicloxacillin 0
Amino-Penicillins AMP/Amox 0
Amox-Clav +
AMP-Sulb +
Anti-Pseudomonal Penicillins Ticar-Clav +
Pip-Tazo +
Carbapenems Doripenem +
Ertapenem +
Imipenem +
Meropenem +
Aztreonam +
Fluroquinolones Ciprofloxacin +*
Ofloxacin +*
Levofloxacin +*
Moxifloxacin +*
Gemifloxacin
Gatifloxacin +*
1st G Cephalo Cefazolin +
2nd G Cephalo Cefotetan +/-
Cefoxitin +/-
Cefuroxime +/-
3rd/4th G Cephalo Cefotaxime +/-
Cefizoxime +/-
CefTRIAXone +
Ceftaroline +
CefTAZidime +/-
Cefepime +
Oral 1st G Cephalo Cefadroxil 0
Cephalexin 0
Oral 2nd G Cephalo Cefaclor +/-
Cefproxil +/-
Cefuroxime +/-
Oral 3rd G Cephalo Cefixime +
Ceftibuten +/-
Cefpodox/ Cefdinir/ Cefditoren +
Aminoglycosides Gentamicin 0
Tobramycin 0
Amikacin 0
Chloramphenicol +
Clindamycin 0
Macrolides Erythromycin +/-
Azithromycin +/-
Clarithromycin +/-
Ketolide Telithromycin +
Tetracyclines Doxycycline +/-
Minocycline +/-
Glycylcycline Tigecycline +
Sulfonamides TMP-SMX +/-
Urinary Agents Nitrofurantoin +
Fosfomycin +
Other Rifampin +
Metronidazole 0
Quinupristin-dalfoppristin +
Linezolid
Daptomycin 0
Colistimethate 0
Telavancin 0
Vancomycin 0

Key

  • S susceptible/sensitive (usually)
  • I intermediate (variably susceptible/resistant)
  • R resistant (or not effective clinically)
  • S+ synergistic with cell wall antibiotics
  • U sensitive for UTI only (non systemic infection)
  • X1 no data
  • X2 active in vitro, but not used clinically
  • X3 active in vitro, but not clinically effective for Group A strep pharyngitis or infections due to E. faecalis
  • X4 active in vitro, but not clinically effective for strep pneumonia

Table Overview

References

  1. Cyr SS et al. Update to CDC’s Treatment Guidelines for Gonococcal Infection, 2020. MMWR. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. 2020. 69(50):1911-1916
  2. Cyr SS et al. Update to CDC’s Treatment Guidelines for Gonococcal Infection, 2020. MMWR. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. 2020. 69(50):1911-1916
  3. CDC. Sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines. MMWR Recomm Rep 2015;64(No. RR-3). https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr6403a1.htm.
  4. Sanford Guide to Antimicrobial Therapy 2010

Disposition

  • Depends on clinical features/presentation

See Also

References