For full study, click here.

The study found that:

• For the majority of patients, providers are treating gonorrhea as CDC recommends (81% overall). In recent years, CDC has only recommended dual therapy with ceftriaxone and azithromycin to potentially slow the emergence and spread of drug resistance.

• STD and reproductive health clinics provide quality STD care. Patients diagnosed in these specific healthcare settings were the most likely to receive the recommended regimen (91% and 94% respectively) compared to 80% in other healthcare settings.

• Nearly 1 in 5 patients were treated with a different regimen. The analysis found substantial differences by healthcare setting, particularly among private providers and those in urgent/emergent care.

A majority of cases treated with other regimens were treated with monotherapy (including 3% of all cases treated with only azithromycin). Gonorrhea should not be treated with azithromycin alone – doing so may accelerate emerging resistance and increase the possibility that the patient may not be cured of their infection.