Drugs for Sexually Transmitted Infections
April 27, 2026 (Issue: 1753)
This review includes recommendations for the
treatment of common sexually transmitted infections
(STIs) other than HIV and viral hepatitis in nonpregnant
adolescents and adults. Some of the indications and
dosages included here have not been...more
- CDC. Expedited partner therapy. July 16, 2024. Available at: https://bit.ly/4sMrieF. Accessed April 9, 2026.
- CDC. Legal status of expedited partner therapy (EPT). June 2, 2025. Available at: https://bit.ly/4m5PK8h. Accessed April 9, 2026.
- In brief: Doxycycline for STI post-exposure prophylaxis. Med Lett Drugs Ther 2024; 66:119.
- LH Bachmann et al. CDC clinical guidelines on the use of doxycycline postexposure prophylaxis for bacterial sexually transmitted infection prevention, United States, 2024. MMWR Recomm Rep 2024; 73:1. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7302a1
- KA Workowski et al. Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021. MMWR Recomm Rep 2021; 70:1. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1
- JC Dombrowski et al. Doxycycline versus azithromycin for the treatment of rectal chlamydia in men who have sex with men: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Infect Dis 2021; 73:824. doi:10.1093/cid/ciab153
- CE Morales-Múnera et al. AEDV expert document on the management of ulcerative venereal infections. Actas Dermosifiliogr 2025; 116:T159. doi:10.1016/j.ad.2024.11.012
- R Simons et al. Observed treatment responses to short-course doxycycline therapy for rectal lymphogranuloma venereum in men who have sex with men. Sex Transm Dis 2018; 45:406. doi:10.1097/olq.0000000000000772
- RN Werner et al. German evidence- and consensus-based guideline on the management of penile urethritis. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2025; 23:254. doi:10.1111/ddg.15617
- WHO. Enhanced Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme (EGASP): gonorrhoea treatment optimization, 2024 report. November 19, 2025. Available at: https://bit.ly/3NTBD9e. Accessed April 9, 2026.
- CDC. Drug-resistant gonorrhea. February 15, 2024. Available at: https://bit.ly/4rOEy0Q. Accessed April 9, 2026.
- JDC Ross et al. Oral gepotidacin for the treatment of uncomplicated urogenital gonorrhoea (EAGLE-1): a phase 3 randomised, open-label, non-inferiority, multicentre study. Lancet 2025; 405:1608. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(25)00628-2
- A Luckey et al. Zoliflodacin versus ceftriaxone plus azithromycin for treatment of uncomplicated urogenital gonorrhoea: an international, randomised, controlled, open-label, phase 3, non-inferiority clinical trial. Lancet 2026; 407:147. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(25)01953-1
- CDC. Clinical treatment of gonorrhea. July 11, 2024. Available at: https://bit.ly/47jATRr. Accessed April 9, 2026.
- M Struyve et al. Primary syphilitic proctitis: case report and literature review. Acta Gastroenterol Belg 2018; 81:430.
- PJ Kissinger et al. Diagnosis and management of Trichomonas vaginalis: summary of evidence reviewed for the 2021 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines. Clin Infect Dis 2022; 74(Suppl_2):S152. doi:10.1093/cid/ciac030
- C Alessio and P Nyirjesy. Management of resistant trichomoniasis. Curr Infect Dis Rep 2019; 21:31. doi:10.1007/s11908-019-0687-4
- AP Ghosh et al. In vitro study of the susceptibility of clinical isolates of Trichomonas vaginalis to metronidazole and secnidazole. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2018; 62:e02329. doi:10.1128/aac.02329-17
- LA Vodstrcil et al. Male-partner treatment to prevent recurrence of bacterial vaginosis. N Engl J Med 2025; 392:947. doi:10.1056/nejmoa2405404
- ACOG. Concurrent sexual partner therapy to prevent bacterial vaginosis recurrence. Obstet Gynecol 2025; 146:e111. doi:10.1097/aog.0000000000006102
- H Yusuf and M Trent. Management of pelvic inflammatory disease in clinical practice. Ther Clin Risk Manag 2023; 19:183. doi:10.2147/tcrm.s350750
- FJ Chevalier et al. Syphilis: a review. JAMA 2025; 334:1927. doi:10.1001/jama.2025.17362
- EW Hook III et al. One dose versus three doses of benzathine penicillin G in early syphilis. N Engl J Med 2025; 393:869. doi:10.1056/nejmoa2401802
- T Klementová et al. Cefixime versus benzathine penicillin G for the treatment of early syphilis-a randomized, controlled open label trial. J Antimicrob Chemother 2025; 80:2654. doi:10.1093/jac/dkaf268
- CDC. Availability of STI testing and treatment products. March 10, 2026. Available at: https://bit.ly/4cizH2j. Accessed April 9, 2026.
- In brief: Alternatives to Bicillin L-A. Med Lett Drugs Ther 2026; 68:7.
- ASHP. Current drug shortages: penicillin G benzathine. March 12, 2026. Available at: https://bit.ly/48lwQV0. Accessed April 9, 2026.
- M Collins-Ogle and BC Herold. Developments in genital herpes: progress in prevention and treatment. Curr Opin Infect Dis 2026; 39:61. doi:10.1097/qco.0000000000001177
- A Wald et al. Comparative efficacy of famciclovir and valacyclovir for suppression of recurrent genital herpes and viral shedding. Sex Transm Dis 2006; 33:529. doi:10.1097/01.olq.0000204723.15765.91
- L Corey et al. Once-daily valacyclovir to reduce the risk of transmission of genital herpes. N Engl J Med 2004; 350:11. doi:10.1056/nejmoa035144
- Y Panahi et al. The efficacy of topical and oral ivermectin in the treatment of human scabies. Ann Parasitol 2015; 61:11.
- RL Woosley et al. QTdrugs list, AZCERT, Tucson, AZ. Available at: www.crediblemeds.org. Accessed April 9, 2026.
- Inhibitors and inducers of CYP enzymes, P-glycoprotein, and other transporters. Med Lett Drugs Ther 2023 January 25 (epub). Available at: www.medicalletter.org/downloads/CYP_PGP_Tables.pdf.
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