Comparative randomized pilot study of azithromycin and doxycycline efficacy in the treatment of prostate infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis

The study included 125 adult patients (>18years of age) who had symptoms of chronic prostatitis and proven presence of Chlamydia trachomatis. The presence of C. trachomatis was confirmed in expressed prostatic secretion or in voided bladder urine collected immediately after prostatic massage by a DNA/RNA hybridization method and/or by isolation on McCoy culture and then by immunofluorescent typing with monoclonal antibodies. The patients were randomized in the ratio 2/1; azithromycin/doxycycline, to receive a total of 4.0 g azithromycin over 4 weeks, given as a single dose of 1x1000 mg weekly for 4 weeks or doxycycline 100 mg b.i.d. for 28 days. Patients' sexual partners were treated at the same time. Clinical and bacteriological efficacy was evaluated 4-6 weeks after the end of therapy. In the group of patients with chlamydial infection of the prostate, there was no significant difference between the eradication rates (azithromycin 65/82, doxycycline 33/43; P=0.82) and the clinical cure rates (azithromycin 56/82, doxycycline 30/43; P=0.94) of the two antimicrobials. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. and the International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved.