Updated treatment guidelines for gonorrhea infections

Gonorrhea is the second most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the United States. It continues to be a major cause of morbidity for women and has been linked to infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease. In 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revised the current treatment guidelines for gonorrhea in response to the rising rates of antibiotic resistance. This column will discuss the new guidelines, including the rationale for the change as well as nursing implications to support timely and effective treatment of gonorrhea.