Publication: An open, randomized, controlled trial of penicillin, doxycycline, and cefotaxime for patients with severe leptospirosis
Issued Date
2004-11-15
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ISSN
10584838
DOI
Other identifier(s)
2-s2.0-8744284697
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Mahidol University
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SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Clinical Infectious Diseases. Vol.39, No.10 (2004), 1417-1424
Suggested Citation
Yupin Suputtamongkol, Kanigar Niwattayakul, Chuanpit Suttinont, Kitti Losuwanaluk, Roongroeng Limpaiboon, Wirongrong Chierakul, Vanaporn Wuthiekanun, Surapee Triengrim, Mongkol Chenchittikul, Nicholas J. White An open, randomized, controlled trial of penicillin, doxycycline, and cefotaxime for patients with severe leptospirosis. Clinical Infectious Diseases. Vol.39, No.10 (2004), 1417-1424. doi:10.1086/425001 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/21491
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Title
An open, randomized, controlled trial of penicillin, doxycycline, and cefotaxime for patients with severe leptospirosis
Abstract
Background. Leptospirosis is an important cause of fever in the rural tropics. Since 1996, there has been a marked increase in the incidence of leptospirosis in northeastern Thailand. Although leptospirosis generally is susceptible to antibiotics, there is no consensus regarding the optimal treatment for severe leptospirosis. Methods. An open-label, randomized comparison of parenteral cefotaxime, penicillin G sodium (hereafter known as "penicillin G"), and doxycycline for the treatment of suspected severe leptospirosis was conducted. The study involved 540 patients admitted to 4 hospitals in northeastern Thailand. Results. A total of 264 patients (48.9%) had leptospirosis confirmed by serologic testing or culture. The overall mortality rate was 5%. There were no significant differences between the antibiotics with regard to associated mortality, defervescence, or time to resolution of abnormal findings of laboratory tests either among all study participants or among the subgroup of patients with confirmed leptospirosis. A total of 132 patients had rickettsial infection diagnosed, and, for these patients, treatment with doxycycline was superior to treatment with penicillin G. Conclusions. Doxycycline or cefotaxime is a satisfactory alternative to penicillin G for the treatment of severe leptospirosis.
