Publication: Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole versus trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole plus doxycycline as oral eradicative treatment for melioidosis (MERTH): A multicentre, double-blind, non-inferiority, randomised controlled trial
Issued Date
2014-01-01
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ISSN
1474547X
01406736
01406736
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2-s2.0-84896740323
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Mahidol University
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SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
The Lancet. Vol.383, No.9919 (2014), 807-814
Suggested Citation
Ploenchan Chetchotisakd, Wirongrong Chierakul, Wipada Chaowagul, Siriluck Anunnatsiri, Kriangsak Phimda, Piroon Mootsikapun, Seksan Chaisuksant, Jiraporn Pilaikul, Bandit Thinkhamrop, Sunchai Phiphitaporn, Wattanachai Susaengrat, Chalongchai Toondee, Surasakdi Wongrattanacheewin, Vanaporn Wuthiekanun, Narisara Chantratita, Janjira Thaipadungpanit, Nicholas P. Day, Direk Limmathurotsakul, Sharon J. Peacock Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole versus trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole plus doxycycline as oral eradicative treatment for melioidosis (MERTH): A multicentre, double-blind, non-inferiority, randomised controlled trial. The Lancet. Vol.383, No.9919 (2014), 807-814. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61951-0 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/34839
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Title
Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole versus trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole plus doxycycline as oral eradicative treatment for melioidosis (MERTH): A multicentre, double-blind, non-inferiority, randomised controlled trial
Author(s)
Ploenchan Chetchotisakd
Wirongrong Chierakul
Wipada Chaowagul
Siriluck Anunnatsiri
Kriangsak Phimda
Piroon Mootsikapun
Seksan Chaisuksant
Jiraporn Pilaikul
Bandit Thinkhamrop
Sunchai Phiphitaporn
Wattanachai Susaengrat
Chalongchai Toondee
Surasakdi Wongrattanacheewin
Vanaporn Wuthiekanun
Narisara Chantratita
Janjira Thaipadungpanit
Nicholas P. Day
Direk Limmathurotsakul
Sharon J. Peacock
Wirongrong Chierakul
Wipada Chaowagul
Siriluck Anunnatsiri
Kriangsak Phimda
Piroon Mootsikapun
Seksan Chaisuksant
Jiraporn Pilaikul
Bandit Thinkhamrop
Sunchai Phiphitaporn
Wattanachai Susaengrat
Chalongchai Toondee
Surasakdi Wongrattanacheewin
Vanaporn Wuthiekanun
Narisara Chantratita
Janjira Thaipadungpanit
Nicholas P. Day
Direk Limmathurotsakul
Sharon J. Peacock
Abstract
Background Melioidosis, an infectious disease caused by the Gram-negative bacillus Burkholderia pseudomallei, is difficult to cure. Antimicrobial treatment comprises intravenous drugs for at least 10 days, followed by oral drugs for at least 12 weeks. The standard oral regimen based on trial evidence is trimethoprim-sulfamethoxaxole (TMP-SMX) plus doxycycline. This regimen is used in Thailand but is associated with side-effects and poor adherence by patients, and TMP-SMX alone is recommended in Australia. We compared the efficacy and side-effects of TMP-SMX with TMP-SMX plus doxycycline for the oral phase of melioidosis treatment. Methods For this multi-centre, double-blind, non-inferiority, randomised placebo-controlled trial, we enrolled patients (aged ≥15 years) from five centres in northeast Thailand with culture-confirmed melioidosis who had received a course of parenteral antimicrobial drugs. Using a computer-generated sequence, we randomly assigned patients to receive TMP-SMX plus placebo or TMP-SMX plus doxycycline for 20 weeks (1:1; block size of ten, stratified by study site). We followed patients up every 4 months for 1 year and annually thereafter to the end of the study. The primary endpoint was culture-confirmed recurrent melioidosis, and the non-inferiority margin was a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.7. This study is registered with www.controlled-trials. com, number ISRCTN86140460. Findings We enrolled and randomly assigned 626 patients: 311 to TMP-SMX plus placebo and 315 to TMP-SMX plus doxycycline. 16 patients (5%) in the TMP-SMX plus placebo group and 21 patients (7%) in the TMP-SMX plus doxycycline group developed culture-confirmed recurrent melioidosis (HR 0.81; 95% CI 0.42-1.55). The criterion for non-inferiority was met (p=0.01). Adverse drug reactions were less common in the TMP-SMX plus placebo group than in the TMP-SMX plus doxycycline group (122 [39%] vs 167 [53%]). Interpretation Our findings suggest that TMP-SMX is not inferior to TMP-SMX plus doxycycline for the oral phase of melioidosis treatment, and is preferable on the basis of safety and tolerance by patients.