What is the appropriate first-line treatment for gonorrhea in an otherwise healthy adult?

The first-line treatment for gonorrhea in an otherwise healthy adult involves the use of IM ceftriaxone paired with oral azithromycin. This dual therapy approach is recommended due to increasing antibiotic resistance observed with Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacterium that causes gonorrhea. Ceftriaxone is a cephalosporin antibiotic that is effective against the organism, while azithromycin is included to cover potential co-infection with Chlamydia trachomatis and to enhance treatment efficacy against gonorrhea itself.

This combination improves the likelihood of successfully eradicating the infection and helps prevent the development of further resistance. The use of dual therapy reflects current guidelines from health organizations, emphasizing the necessity of effective treatment regimens in the face of evolving resistance patterns in sexually transmitted infections.

Other treatment options presented don't align with the recommended guidelines for gonorrhea; for instance, using penicillin alone is outdated due to resistance, while TMP-SMX and nitrofurantoin are not appropriate for this indication. Similarly, levofloxacin and cefepime are not the standard treatments for gonorrhea. Hence, the choice of IM ceftriaxone with oral azithromycin is well-documented as a robust