Single-dose ciprofloxacin for the treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhea: a worldwide summary.
OBJECTIVE
Antibiotic therapy for Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections has evolved owing to the development of resistance to penicillin and tetracycline therapy. A variety of antimicrobials, including the fluoroquinolones, have been proposed as useful alternatives.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral ciprofloxacin as single-dose treatment for urogenital and extragenital gonococcal infections.


METHODS
1180 patients with uncomplicated gonococcal infection received single-dose ciprofloxacin regimens ranging from 100 mg to 2000 mg to demonstrate microbiologic efficacy and to determine the minimum effective dose. Eight of 18 studies were randomized, controlled trials with ampicillin/probenecid, amoxicillin/probenecid, ceftriaxone, or spectinomycin as control drugs.


RESULTS
Although a ciprofloxacin dose-response was not detected, 250 mg was used in most of the studies. Among 815 patients with 910 infected sites receiving 250 mg of ciprofloxacin, bacteriologic eradication was achieved in 563 (100%) male urethral, 199 (100%) female cervical, 101 (99%) male and female rectal, and 47 (96%) male and female pharyngeal sites.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have identified 500 mg of ciprofloxacin as a single-dose treatment regimen for uncomplicated gonorrhea, the clinical data from the multinational studies indicate that a 250-mg single-dose of ciprofloxacin is equally effective in the management of uncomplicated gonorrhea, including extragenital sites of infection.
Echols
R M
RM
Miles Inc., Pharmaceutical Division, West Haven, Connecticut 06516.
Heyd
A
A
O'Keeffe
B J
BJ
Schacht
P
P
D000328:Adult; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D052776:Female Urogenital Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D052801:Male Urogenital Diseases; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013753:Tetracycline Resistance; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002939:Ciprofloxacin