A comparison of single-dose spectinomycin with five days of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for the treatment of chancroid.
In a controlled trial 32 patients with ulcers culture-positive for Haemophilus ducreyi were treated with a single 2-g dose of spectinomycin, and 20 patients were treated with a five-day course of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ; 160/800 mg) twice daily. Both regimens rapidly eradicated H. ducreyi from ulcers, with subsequent healing of ulcers and buboes. The cure rates 14 days after initiation of therapy were 94% for spectinomycin and 95% for TMP-SMZ. Patients with H. ducreyi-negative ulcers who were treated with the same regimens also healed and did not show a significantly different efficacy for either regimen. Thus we found that the one-day regimen of spectinomycin was as effective for the treatment of chancroid as was TMP-SMZ given for five days. Further studies on a larger number of patients are needed to confirm our findings.
D000328:Adult; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002602:Chancroid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004338:Drug Combinations / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000198:Spectinomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014295:Trimethoprim / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination; D000198:Spectinomycin; D014295:Trimethoprim; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole