A nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with gonorrhea. Which statement by the patient indicates the need for further education?

Choice A rationale:

Antibiotics, specifically those like azithromycin or doxycycline, are the standard treatment for syphilis, which is a bacterial infection caused by Treponema pallidum. These antibiotics effectively target and eliminate the bacteria responsible for the infection.

Choice B rationale:

Antiviral drugs like acyclovir are used to treat viral infections, such as herpes simplex virus (HSV), and are not effective against bacterial infections like syphilis.

Choice C rationale:

Antiprotozoal drugs like metronidazole are used to treat infections caused by protozoa, not bacteria like Treponema pallidum.

Choice D rationale:

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is used to manage HIV/AIDS, which is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), not syphilis. It is not an appropriate treatment for syphilis infection.

Choice A rationale:

STIs are not exclusively caused by bacteria. They can also be caused by viruses (e.g., HIV, herpes), parasites (e.g., trichomoniasis), and other pathogens.

Choice B rationale:

STIs can be transmitted through various means, including sexual intercourse, but also through other forms of sexual contact (oral, anal), sharing of contaminated needles, and from mother to baby during childbirth or breastfeeding.

Choice C rationale:

This statement is inaccurate. Many STIs can have serious consequences for health, including infertility, chronic pain, cancer (e.g., HPV-related cervical cancer), and increased risk of other infections (e.g., HIV transmission is facilitated by some STIs)

Choice D rationale:

This is the correct choice. STIs can indeed affect anyone who engages in sexual activity, regardless of age or gender. Being sexually active without proper protection and precautions increases the risk of STI transmission.