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Long‐term treatment with sub‐antimicrobial dose doxycycline has no antibacterial effect on intestinal flora
Author(s) -
Walker Clay,
Preshaw Philip M.,
Novak John,
Hefti Arthur F.,
Bradshaw Mark,
Powala Christopher
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of clinical periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.456
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1600-051X
pISSN - 0303-6979
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-051x.2005.00840.x
Subject(s) - doxycycline , antimicrobial , antibiotics , medicine , placebo , vaginal flora , microbiology and biotechnology , regimen , biology , bacterial vaginosis , pathology , alternative medicine
Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine if a 9‐month regimen of sub‐antimicrobial doxycycline (20 mg, bid) had an effect on either the intestinal or the vaginal microflora. Material and Methods: A total of 69 periodontally diseased subjects were randomized to receive drug or placebo control for a 9‐month period. Stool specimens and vaginal swabs were collected at baseline and after 3 and 9 months of therapy. Samples were examined for total anaerobic counts, opportunistic pathogens, and doxycycline‐resistant (4 μg/ml) bacteria. All isolates that survived sub‐culture were identified and their susceptibilities determined to six antibiotics. Analyses were performed to determine if treatment differences were present. Results: The only statistically significant differences ( p <0.05) between the two treatment groups occurred in the doxycycline‐resistant counts at the baseline sample period for the faecal samples. This imbalance was before treatment initiation and the administration of the study drug. No between‐treatment differences were detected at either the 3‐ or 9‐month sample period either in the predominant bacterial taxa present or in their antibiotic susceptibilities. Conclusions: There was no evidence that sub‐antimicrobial doxycycline treatment exerted an effect on the composition or doxycycline resistance level of either the faecal or the vaginal microflora.