What is the primary treatment for gonorrhea infection?

Ceftriaxone is the primary treatment for gonorrhea infection because it is a broad-spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic that effectively targets Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacterium responsible for this sexually transmitted infection. The current recommendations from health organizations, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), highlight ceftriaxone as the first-line therapy, particularly when given as an intramuscular injection.

In the context of gonorrhea treatment, ceftriaxone is often paired with azithromycin or doxycycline, but it is ceftriaxone that acts as the cornerstone of therapy due to its high efficacy and ability to resist certain bacterial resistance mechanisms, which have emerged in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. In cases of uncomplicated gonorrhea, a single dose of ceftriaxone is usually sufficient to cure the infection and prevent potential complications, such as pelvic inflammatory disease in females or disseminated gonococcal infection.

The other antibiotic choices listed, while they may be effective against various infections, do not serve as primary treatment options for gonorrhea. For instance, azithromycin might be used in conjunction with ceftriaxone, but it is not the sole or primary treatment.