Comparison of two chemotherapy regimen: doxycycline-rifampicin and doxycycline cotrimoxazol in the brucellosis patients Ahvaz, Iran, 2004-2006

ABSTRACT

To compare two drugs regimen, doxycycline-rifampicin and doxycycline-cotrimoxazol in the treatment of brucellosis patients. It is a comparative clinical study conducted in Ahwaz a city southwest Iran, from April 2004 to January 2006. This study was conducted on 102 nomads' patients with brucellosis. The diagnostic criteria were the finding of >/= 1/80 [Wright] with a 2 mercaptoethanol [2 ME] >/= 1/40, in association with compatible clinical findings [back pain, sweating and fever]. Patients were enrolled into the two antimicrobial therapy groups, doxycycline plus rifampicin [DR group] and doxycycline plus co-trimoxazole [DC group]. The data in the two groups were statistically compared with SPSS by chi square test. Failure of treatment was seen in one [1.94%] and 5 [9.81%] cases treated in the DC group and DR group, respectively. Relapse was seen in three cases [5.88%] treated in the DC group and in six cases [11.76%] treated in the DR group. Failure of treatment plus relapse was seen in four [7.84%] and 11 [21.56%] cases treated in the DC group and DR group, respectively [p <0.05]. Risk for relapse and failure of treatment in DR group was 2.75 times higher than DC group. This study showed that co-trimoxazole plus doxycycline regimen has a better therapeutic effect than doxycycline plus rifampicin regimen