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1: Clin Infect Dis. 2002 Oct 15;35(Suppl 2):S191-9.Click here to read Links

Ciprofloxacin for the treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhea infection in adolescents: does the benefit outweigh the risk?

Burstein GR, Berman SM, Blumer JL, Moran JS.

Division of HIV and AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. gib5@cdc.gov

The highest rates of reported gonorrhea infections occur among adolescent females aged 15-19 years. Among the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-recommended single-dose gonorrhea treatment regimens, ciprofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, is approximately half the cost of other CDC-recommended oral treatment regimens. Fluoroquinolone use in patients aged <18 years has been limited because of irreversible articular cartilage damage demonstrated in large, weight-bearing joints of young animals. We reviewed the medical literature to assess whether the risks of a single 500-mg dose of ciprofloxacin to treat uncomplicated gonorrhea infection in adolescents appears to outweigh the benefits. We found no reports of irreversible cartilage toxicity or age-associated adverse events in 5236 human children and adolescents (aged 5 days-24 years) treated with a total of 5486 courses of fluoroquinolones.

PMID: 12353206 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Patient Drug Information

  • Ciprofloxacin (Cipro® , Cipro® XR, Proquin® XR)

    Ciprofloxacin is used to treat or prevent certain infections caused by bacteria. Ciprofloxacin is also used to treat or prevent anthrax (a serious infection that may be spread on purpose as part of a bioterror attack) in...

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