What is Spectinomycin?

Spectinomycin is an antibiotic secreted by soil bacteria that has been synthesized for use in medical treatment of bacterial infections. This medication has been voluntarily withdrawn from the market by manufacturers in some regions, as more effective and profitable medications are available. When spectinomycin is not a treatment option for a patient because of availability problems, other drugs such as cephalosporin antibiotics may be prescribed, depending on the patient and the situation.

This drug is most commonly used in the treatment of gonorrhea. It is designed to be given as a single injection into the muscle. The patient will be evaluated after a waiting period to make sure the bacteria have been eliminated. If they do not respond to treatment, another medication may need to be tried. Spectinomycin tends to be expensive, making it not the preferred line of treatment for gonorrhea, and the injection as opposed to oral administration can also be a deterrent.

The medication works by disrupting the synthesis of proteins. Bacteria, as well as other living organisms, need to be able to synthesize proteins to live. When they cannot do so, they quickly die, as their basic metabolic functions start to go awry. Spectinomycin targets the bacteria responsible for gonorrhea, but patients may experience some side effects as a result of penetration into healthy cells. These can include sleeplessness, itching, rash, fever, chills, and irritation at the site of the injection.

Some patients may develop allergic reactions to spectinomycin. Patients who have trouble breathing or develop a severe rash around the injection site should see a doctor for evaluation to determine if they are having a reaction. The allergy should be noted in the chart to avoid administering the medication again, and if the patient has future gonorrhea infections, the allergy should be mentioned to the treating physician so a more appropriate medication can be selected.

In regions where spectinomycin is not available, other antibiotics are, and drug companies are constantly developing more. This drug is often selected when a patient has an allergy to a standard gonorrhea treatment, leading care providers to need an alternative. Other antibiotics, of varying expense, are available to get patients treatment without potentially compromising their health with an allergic reaction. Patients on insurance should check to see that their insurance covers medically indicated alternatives in the event of an allergic reaction if they are concerned about the expense of a different antibiotic.