[Question #8574] Treatment Question
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42 months ago
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This is just a general question.
Would 1G of Azithromycin and 100MG of Doxy taken twice daily for 7 days be preventative antibiotics after 12 hours of an exposure for Syphilis, Gonorrhea and Chlamydia?
Or would the doses for Doxy need to be upped or other alternative antibiotics need to be included?
Thanks.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
42 months ago
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Welcome back to the forum. You provide no background as to the origin of your question or the reason for your concern.
In general, the antibiotics you mention would certainly have prevented/cured chlamydial infection or NGU when taken 12 hours after an exposure of concern. These antibiotics would also likely have prevented syphilis. Unfortunately a significant proportion of gonorrhea bacteria however are resistant to both doxycycline and/or azithromycin and the affect of these antibiotics for prevention of gonorrhea cannot be assured.
I feel I should also point out that virtually all experts in the field do not recommend preventive antibiotics following a worrisome exposure unless persons are absolutely sure they have been exposed to infection. Each of the antibiotics you mention has side effects and could confuse interpretation of future test results in much the same vein as you ask about in your previous questions regarding Syphilis and Syphilis therapy.
EWH
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42 months ago
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No reason for my concern. I have just been doing some reading on this informative forum.
I have read that taking Azithromycin within 24 hours of exposure would prevent Gonorrhea from establishing but it’s not 100% in treating established Gonorrhea. Is that a true statement?
Last Q, In terms of transmission of gonorrhea in the eye, is it ever transferred by urine from your hand to someone else’s hand to the eye? It seems like that has too many touch points for the bacteria to live on and I’m not sure it can survive in urine?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
42 months ago
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The issue of azithromycin and its impact on gonorrhea is an evolving, complicated issue. Azithromycin resistance in gonorrhea varies substantially from area to area and is increasing. While in general it tales less antibiotic to prevent infection from taking hold than to treat it, the prevention of infection by azithromycin is not assured.
STIs are not transferred by the transfer of genital secretions or other infected material on a person's hands to others- this is the case for the eye as well as the genial tract. That's the reason that mutual masturbation is considered safe, no risk sex even though it is typical for persons to get each others' genital secretions on one another.
EWH
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42 months ago
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Ok so last question. I don’t understand then how individuals would contract gonorrhea in the eye? Would it have to be direct exposure to the infected material? Or someone rubbing their eyes immediately?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
42 months ago
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Gonorrhea of the eye is quite rare except for among neonates born to infected mothers. In over 40 years of focused practice, I’ve never seen a case. I suppose it might occur with direct inoculation. Even then infection would be unlikely due to the remarkable efficiency of the blink reflex in keeping things out of the eye.
EWH
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42 months ago
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Last question. Does the immune system eradicate Gonorrhea after a few months for everyone? How did infected people in the pre-antibiotic era heal themselves if the immune system does not eradicate this Disease? Thanks for your help, it’s been quite insightful.
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42 months ago
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I did not post the statement on this thread by the way. Not sure where it came from…
“ Thanks for your guidance. I will receive the test results by Feb 23. I am hoping you can keep this thread open until that time in the event I have a question concerning the results.
Cheers”
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
42 months ago
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Final Responses:
We provide up to three responses to each client's questions. This is my 4th response. I will try to keep the thread open so you can post your results for up to 30 days. After 30 days, all questions are closed administratively.
Yes, the host immune system does eliminate infections over time in most persons. Precisely how long this may take is not well characterized and as you might anticipate, some persons appear to clear their infections soon than others for reasons that are unknown. Obviously, this is something that could not be ethically studied.
I'm not sure why the additional response landed on your thread either. EWH
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