title: Prevention of experimental Haemophilus ducreyi infection: a randomized, controlled clinical trial.
abstract: Human subjects were infected with Haemophilus ducreyi. All subjects developed papules and were randomized to treatment with a single dose of azithromycin (1 g) or ciprofloxacin (500 mg). At weekly intervals, volunteers were reinoculated with H. ducreyi, and drug concentrations were measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). When papules developed, the subjects were treated with antibiotics and dismissed from the study. Eight of the ciprofloxacin-treated subjects developed papules 1 week after the initial treatment, and the ninth subject developed disease 2 weeks after treatment. The 9 azithromycin-treated subjects developed papules 4-10 weeks (mean, 6.8) after the initial treatment (P < .001). Azithromycin was detected in PBMC for 3-6 weeks (mean, 4). Pre- and posttreatment lesions had histology typical of experimental chancroid or were culture positive. Azithromycin prevents experimental chancroid for nearly 2 months. These findings have implications for strategies to prevent chancroid.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, USA.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Thornton
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: O'Mara
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Sorensen
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Hiltke
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fortney
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Shoup
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Hood
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Spinola
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002602:Chancroid / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006191:Haemophilus ducreyi; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D002939:Ciprofloxacin; D017963:Azithromycin