Question

A student nurse is doing clinical hours at an OB/GYN clinic. The student is helping to develop a plan of care for a patient with gonorrhea has presented at the clinic. The student knows that the care plan for this patient should be include what in the treatment of gonorrhea?

a) Concurrent treatment for chlamydia
b) Avoidance of the use of tampons
c) Vaginal smears every 6 months
d) Radiation therapy to destroy cancerous cells

Answer 1

The care plan for gonorrhea should include treatment for both the infection and any potential co-infection with chlamydia, using a combination of ceftriaxone and azithromycin. Partner treatment, routine screenings, and laboratory diagnostics form a comprehensive approach to manage and prevent the spread of this often asymptomatic STD.

Step-by-step explanation:

The care plan for a patient with gonorrhea should include concurrent treatment for chlamydia, due to the high prevalence of co-infection with Chlamydia trachomatis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the recommended treatment regimen includes a combination of ceftriaxone and azithromycin to address both infections and to reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance. Furthermore, treatment of sexual partners is crucial to prevent reinfection and to control the spread of the infection.

It is important to highlight that gonorrhea is often asymptomatic, which can result in complications if not treated timely, such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and infertility. Hence, routine screening is recommended for sexually active individuals, particularly for women under 25 years of age or with risk factors such as new or multiple sex partners. The main diagnostic tool involves lab analysis of urine or genital, oral, or rectal specimens. Also, treatments differ for gonorrheal and nongonococcal urethritis, with N. gonorrhoeae often requiring a different antibiotic approach due to evolving resistance to common antibiotics.