Azithromycin and doxycycline in the treatment of female patients with acute urethral syndrome caused by Ureaplasma urealyticum: significance of duration of clinical symptoms.
One hundred ninety-two female patients with acute urethral syndrome caused by Ureaplasma urealyticum were examined. First, patients were divided into two groups: those with clinical symptoms present for less than 3 weeks before the start of treatment and those with clinical symptoms 3 weeks or longer before the beginning of therapy. The patients were then further divided into groups and randomized to receive azithromycin once daily in a single dose of 1 g or 500 mg once daily for 6 days, or to receive doxycycline 100 mg b.i.d. for 14 days or 100 mg b.i.d. for 7 days (eight study groups in all). Clinical and bacteriological efficacy were evaluated 3 weeks after the end of therapy. In the group of patients with disease symptoms lasting for 3 weeks or longer, eradication and clinical cure rates were significantly higher after the administration of azithromycin at a dose of 1 x 500 mg/6 days than after a single dose of 1 g (p < 0.001).
Skerk
V
V
Dr. Fran Mihaljević University Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Mirogojska 8, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia. bfm@fran.bfm.hr
Schönwald
S
S
Krhen
I
I
Rusinovic
M
M
Strapac
Z
Z
Vukovic
J
J
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000652:urine; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013577:Syndrome; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016869:Ureaplasma Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D016990:Ureaplasma urealyticum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014522:Urethral Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017963:Azithromycin; D004318:Doxycycline