Choice of empirical antibiotic therapy for urethritis

The choice of antibiotic therapy for urethritis depends on whether gonococcal infection is suspected – see Aetiology and assessment of urethritis.

If gonococcal urethritis is suspected on clinical grounds (ie the patient has purulent urethral discharge), do not wait for the results of investigations; treat immediately to prevent complications and further transmission – see Treatment of suspected gonococcal urethritis.

If clinical assessment does not suggest gonorrhoea or it is not possible to distinguish nongonococcal urethritis from gonococcal urethritis, see Treatment of suspected nongonococcal urethritis.