title: Administration of a triple versus a standard double antimicrobial regimen for human brucellosis more efficiently eliminates bacterial DNA load.
abstract: The effects of doxycycline-streptomycin-rifampin versus a standard doxycycline-streptomycin regimen on residual Brucella DNA were compared in 36 acute brucellosis patients. At admission, all patients given triple (n = 22) and double (n = 14) regimens had detectable Brucella DNA with similar mean loads (P = 0.982). At follow-up, 14 to 20 months postpresentation, significantly more patients receiving triple than double regimens had undetectable Brucella DNA (P = 0.026). The doxycycline-streptomycin-rifampin regimen eliminates Brucella DNA more efficiently than doxycycline-streptomycin, which may result in superior long-term clearance of Brucella.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vrioni
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Trikala General Hospital, Trikala, Greece.
authors.forename: Adamantios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bourdakis
authors.affiliation: Institute of Continuing Medical Education of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pappas
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Vassiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pitiriga
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mavrouli
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece spournaras@med.uoa.gr.
authors.forename: Spyros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pournaras
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Athanassios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsakris
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058491:Bacterial Load; D017347:Brucella melitensis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013307:Streptomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004318:Doxycycline; D012293:Rifampin; D013307:Streptomycin