Immediate hypersensitivity reaction to single-dose parenteral ceftriaxone therapy for gonorrhea

The authors describe a case of immediate hypersensitivity reaction after single-dose intramuscular administration of ceftriaxone for gonococcal urethritis. This reaction is the only one that was witnessed in 4,587 patients who were treated with ceftriaxone in our sexually transmitted diseases clinic during the past 3 years. This article emphasizes that although the frequency of such events is low (less than .025%; 95% CI, 0-2%), parenteral ceftriaxone should be administered in outpatient settings only when resources for treatment of immediate hypersensitivity reactions are available.