Final answer:
The recommended empiric treatment for suspected gonorrhea, according to the CDC, is a combination of ceftriaxone and azithromycin. Penicillin is not advised due to resistance, and ciprofloxacin is discouraged due to fluoroquinolone resistance. Doxycycline is also not the first choice for gonorrhea but can be used against Chlamydia co-infection.
Step-by-step explanation:
Empiric Treatment for Suspected Gonorrhea
For empiric treatment of a patient with suspected gonorrhea, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a combination therapy due to the prevalence of antibiotic resistance. According to the latest guidelines, the recommended regimen includes ceftriaxone and azithromycin.
It is important to note that while doxycycline can be effective against Chlamydia trachomatis, which might co-infect, it's not the first choice for treating gonorrhea due to resistance issues. Therefore, the appropriate medications from the given options for gonorrhea treatment are azithromycin as part of the combination therapy, but not doxycycline alone. Penicillin is not effective due to resistance, and ciprofloxacin is no longer recommended because of widespread resistance of gonorrhea to fluoroquinolones.