A comparative study of single-dose treatment of chancroid using thiamphenicol versus Azithromycin.
A study was conducted in São Paulo, Brazil, to compare azithromycin with thiamphenicol for the single-dose treatment of chancroid. In all, 54 men with chancroid were tested. The etiology was determined by clinical characterization and direct bacterioscopy with Gram staining. None of the patients had positive serology or dark-field examination indicating active infection with Treponema pallidum. Genital infections due to Neisseria gonorrhoeae and herpes simplex virus were excluded by polymerase chain reaction testing. For 54 patients with chancroid, cure rates with single-dose treatment were 73% with azithromycin and 89% with thiamphenicol. HIV seropositivity was found to be associated with treatment failure (p=0.001). The treatment failed in all HIV positive patients treated with azithromycin (p=0.002) and this drug should be avoided in these co-infected patients. In the view of the authors, thiamphenicol is the most indicated single-dose regimen for chancroid treatment.
Belda
Walter
W
Department of Dermatology, São Paulo University. walterbelda@uol.com.br
Di Chiacchio
Nilton G
NG
Di Chiacchio
Nilton
N
Romiti
Ricardo
R
Criado
Paulo R
PR
Velho
Paulo Eduardo N Ferreira
PE
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002602:Chancroid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013839:Thiamphenicol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017211:Treatment Failure
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017963:Azithromycin; D013839:Thiamphenicol