Doxycycline Therapy for Leptospirosis

Abstract

To study antibiotic efficacy, 29 patients with leptospirosis were treated in a randomized, double-blinded fashion with doxycycline, 100 mg orally twice a day, or placebo. Therapy was given for 7 days in a hospital, and patients were followed for 3 weeks afterwards. Duration of illness before therapy and severity of illness were the same in both groups. Doxycycline reduced the duration of illness by 2 days and favorably affected fever, malaise, headache, and myalgias. Treatment prevented leptospiruria and had no adverse effects. Doxycycline is effective in therapy for patients with leptospirosis.

Leptospirosis Outbreak in 2005: L.T.M.G. Hospital Experience

“…Doxycycline therapy initiated soon after the onset of symptoms can prevent severe complications and mortality. [5] Though MAT is a widely used reference test it has its limitations as mentioned earlier.…”

Outbreak of Leptospirosis after a Race in the Tropical Forest of Martinique

“…3,4,7,8,22,23 In addition, several studies suggest that doxycycline could be used either as chemoprophylaxis or as post-exposure prophylaxis and post-exposure empirical treatment. 21,[24][25][26][27] Both a study of U.S. Army soldiers who participated in a 3-week training exercise in the jungles of Panama and another study in residents of a rural area of the Andaman Islands found preventive efficacy of doxycycline, administered 200 mg once weekly. 24,25 Administration of doxycycline, 100 mg daily, represent an alternative chemoprophylaxis, in areas where malaria and leptospirosis are endemic, as suggested by the preventive efficacy of such treatment during the race in Borneo.…”

Referral pattern of leptospirosis cases during a large urban epidemic of dengue.

“…It is within this period that oral doxycyline therapy has been shown in a randomized clinical trial to provide benefit in reducing morbidity from leptospirosis. 13 Observational studies have suggested that the increased use of empiric antibiotic treatment for febrile patients during epidemic periods contributed to the gradual decrease in the case fatality rate for leptospirosis observed in New Caledonia 22 and in Barbados. 21,23 However, in the present study, early-phase leptospirosis was confused with dengue during this critical period.…”