Work

Early syphilis: serological treatment response to doxycycline/tetracycline versus benzathine penicillin

Year: 2014

Type: article

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Benzathine penicillin G is the treatment of choice for syphilis, but doxycycline and tetracycline are effective second-line treatments. The objective of this study was to assess the serological response to treatment for early syphilis with benzathine penicillin compared with doxycycline or tetracycline. METHODOLOGY: We examined rapid plasma regain (RPR) serological test results of all first-time early syphilis patients in Peking Union Medical College Hospital between 2000 and 2011, comparing treatment with two doses of penicillin to 14-day course of oral doxycycline (100 mg twice daily) or oral tetracycline (500 mg 4 times a day). RESULTS: Of the 641 early syphilis cases with available treatment outcome data, 606 (94.5%) received penicillin and 35 (5.5%) received doxycycline/tetracycline. More than half (52.1%) had secondary syphilis, 13.4% had primary syphilis, and 34.5% had early latent syphilis. A statistically similar serological treatment success rate (p = 0.157) was observed in penicillin-treated patients 91.4% (554/606), when compared with patients treated with doxycycline/tetracycline 82.9% (29/35). CONCLUSION: Doxycycline/tetracycline had a similar serological treatment success rate when compared to penicillin in the treatment of early syphilis.

Source: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries

DOI: 10.3855/jidc.3013

Authors: Jun Li, He-Yi Zheng

Institutions: Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Syphilis Diagnosis and Treatment

Subfield: Infectious Diseases

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $394