Educational Pearls:

• Recent updates to treatment guidelines increased the 250 mg ceftriaxone IM dose to 500 mg ceftriaxone IM
• IM dosing can be very painful, so other methods of administration can help decrease pain for patients
• Using IV ceftriaxone instead of IM has no significant difference in pharmacokinetics or bioavailability, so it can be considered in patients with an IV already placed

References

St Cyr S, Barbee L, Workowski KA, et al. Update to CDC's Treatment Guidelines for Gonococcal Infection, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020;69(50):1911-1916. Published 2020 Dec 18. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6950a6

Product Information: ROCEPHIN(R) IV, IM injection, ceftriaxone sodium IV, IM injection. Genentech USA, Inc. (per Manufacturer), South San Francisco, CA, 2010.

Summarized by John Spartz, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD

The Emergency Medical Minute is excited to announce that we are now offering AMA PRA Category 1 credits™ via online course modules. To access these and for more information, visit our website at https://emergencymedicalminute.org/cme-courses/ and create an account.

Donate to EMM today!

Diversity and Inclusion Award