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Efficacy of single-dose azithromycin versus doxycycline in the treatment of cervical infections caused byChlamydia trachomatis

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Abstract

The efficacy of single-dose azithromycin therapy in the treatment of cervicalChlamydia trachomatis infections was compared to that of a standard seven-day course of treatment with doxycycline. Cervical samples from 60 patients reacted positively in an enzyme immunoassay for detection ofChlamydia trachomatis. In 31 patientsChlamydia trachomatis was isolated from the sample taken before treatment. Fourteen of the 31 patients were treated with doxycycline and 17 with azithromycin. All cultures of samples taken one and four weeks after the start of therapy were negative. All 31 isolates showed a similar pattern of MICs for the seven antibiotics tested, including azithromycin and doxycycline. No differences were observed between isolates of different serovars. In samples from four patients chlamydial DNA could be detected by PCR one week after the start of the therapy and in two patients also after four weeks. No difference in microbiological parameters could be observed between the two treatment groups. It is concluded that single-dose azithromycin is as effective as a seven-day course of doxycycline in the therapy of cervicalChlamydia trachomatis infections.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Virology, National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection, PO Box 1, 3720 BA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands

    J. M. Ossewaarde, M. Rieffe, R. P. Nawrocki, A. de Vries & A. M. van Loon

  2. Carolus-Liduina Hospital, PO Box 10100, 5280 GA, Boxtel, The Netherlands

    F. H. F. Plantema

Authors
  1. J. M. Ossewaarde
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  2. F. H. F. Plantema
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  3. M. Rieffe
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  4. R. P. Nawrocki
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  5. A. de Vries
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  6. A. M. van Loon
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Ossewaarde, J.M., Plantema, F.H.F., Rieffe, M. et al. Efficacy of single-dose azithromycin versus doxycycline in the treatment of cervical infections caused byChlamydia trachomatis . Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 11, 693–697 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01989972

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01989972

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