[Question #9796] Keflex and incubating STI

Avatar photo
29 months ago
Hey Doc,

I’ll try to be quick. Received oral sex (with a plastic wrap from Asian massage). This was two days ago. I started talking keflex 500mg 2x a day for an unrelated issue that same evening.. I didn’t even think about it till today. Now that I started the course how long should I continue to take to make sure if for any reason I should have contracted Gonorrhea or Syphilis that they are both aborted? I wasn’t planning on taking it to avoid An STI, but now that I have taken I should make sure it’s done properly 

Thanks
Avatar photo
Edward W. Hook M.D.
29 months ago
Welcome to our forum. Thanks for your question. I’ll be glad to comment. 

Receiving oral sex is a low risk event. Most people, even those with multiple sexual partners, do not have oral STI’s. When they do, the most common oral STI they have is gonorrhea, which is sometimes but not usually transmitted through oral sex.  The fact that your partner used plastic wrap at the time she performed oral sex on you is essentially the same as using a condom and reduces your risk of any infection whatsoever to virtually zero. 

In my opinion, you did not need antibiotics. Having said that, the antibiotics you have taken would likely prevent gonorrhea, and certainly prevent syphilis, when taken in 
for as little is 2 to 3 days following in an exposure.  You can safely stop taking the kefir at this time and have no reason to worry about STI’s from the event you describe. I see no reason for concern and no reason for testing.

I hope this information is helpful. Please don’t worry. EWH.
---
Avatar photo
29 months ago
Hi Dr Hook,

Thanks for your answer. I feel I have complicated a “make a mistake and get tested for reassurance” situation.  Hypothetically if I did contract Gonorreha (I know very remote) and the Keflex did not abort the incubating Gonorrehea, could I test accurately after the course of Keflex? Or could it give a false negative. How long after ending the course of antibiotics should I test? I have to finish the 7 day Keflex for another condition. If the Keflex failed and I did contract the bacteria would I still have symptoms at 5-7 days or would that change as well. Sorry for the hypotheticals but I want to be 100% sure for my partner.

Thanks
Avatar photo
Edward W. Hook M.D.
29 months ago
If you failed Keflex you would most probably have a positive test.  Certainly if you were infected a follow up test 3-5 days following completion of the antibiotics would be positive and, more likely than not, you would be symptomatic.  The likelihood of infection however is close to zero. EWH ---
Avatar photo
29 months ago
Thank you so much, your answers really help think this through.

The two remaining things in my mind. HSV 1. Is there a risk there? I read if you have no symptoms for a week, there is no need to worry..is this true?

NGU- I know there is no test, if I were to have this could it negatively effect my partner (female)


Avatar photo
Edward W. Hook M.D.
29 months ago
As you know, we provide up to 3 replies to each client's questions.  These will be my final replies:

HSV-1:  If you do not already have HSV-1, as do nearly 50% of American adults, many of whom do not know it, the risk for acquisition of HSV-1 from any single encounter is very low and, in your case is virtually zero due the use of saran wrap.  Had you acquired HSV-1, it is more likely than not that you would have become symptomatic within 10 days of exposure.  I would not be at all worried about HSV-1 from the exposure you describe.

NGU- Non-chlamydial NGU is not known to be a meaningful risk factor for problems in exposed partners.  I would not worry.

I really think you are worryng far more than you need to.  I urge you to put this behind you and move forward.  EWH
---