Which antibiotic is primarily used to treat gonorrhea?

Ceftriaxone is the first-line antibiotic recommended for treating gonorrhea. This third-generation cephalosporin is effective against Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacteria responsible for the infection. It works by inhibiting cell wall synthesis, leading to bacterial cell death.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines emphasize the use of ceftriaxone, often in combination with azithromycin, to help combat rising antibiotic resistance. In this combination therapy, ceftriaxone provides excellent efficacy against gonorrhea, while azithromycin enhances overall treatment effectiveness and decreases the chances of resistance developing.

Amoxicillin, tetracycline, and azithromycin, while used for various infections, are not recommended as first-line treatments for gonorrhea. Amoxicillin is mainly effective against gram-positive bacteria and is not sufficient for gonorrhea. Tetracycline has limited efficacy against this specific bacterium, and while azithromycin can play a role in treatment, it is not used alone for gonorrhea and is typically combined with ceftriaxone. Therefore, ceftriaxone is the mainstay of therapy due to its proven effectiveness and reliability in treating gonorrhea.