CKS is no longer commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). NICE remains committed to providing a replacement service for CKS and is currently reviewing its options. In the meantime, although CKS content is now not being maintained, it still remains relevant and will continue to be made available. CKS content was generated under a programme of topic creation and update. To check if the topic you are viewing is current or out of date, please refer to the topic publication details by clicking on the 'How up-to-date is this topic?' link in the left hand menu on individual topic pages.
Gonorrhoea - Management
What treatment should I prescribe for a pregnant or breastfeeding woman with gonorrhoea in primary care?
- For confirmed uncomplicated gonorrhoea, prescribe:
- Cefixime (400 mg, single oral dose, off label) — usually preferred, or
- Ceftriaxone (250 mg, intramuscular injection, off label) — recommended for pharyngeal infection.
- For empirical treatment of suspected gonorrhoea, prescribe an additional antibiotic to treat Chlamydia trachomatis. Options include:
- Amoxicillin (500 mg three times a day for 7 days), or
- Erythromycin (500 mg four times a day for 7 days), or
- Azithromycin (1 g, single dose, off label).
- Do not prescribe a fluoroquinolone or tetracycline for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Seek specialist advice if a cephalosporin is contraindicated, for example if the woman has a true allergy to penicillin.
© NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement