Periodontitis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Periodontitis, including details on treatment, causes, gingivitis, symptoms. | ||||||||
|
Long-term treatment with sub-antimicrobial dose doxycycline has no antibacterial effect on intestinal flora.Walker C, Preshaw PM, Novak J, Hefti AF, Bradshaw M, Powala C Periodontal Disease Research Clinics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA. walkerc1@ufl.edu 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 (>or=4 microg/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. Published 10 October 2005 in J Clin Periodontol, 32(11): 1163-9.
© 2005-2008 Periodontitis Research Today. All Rights Reserved. |
| ||||||
