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Long-term treatment with sub-antimicrobial dose doxycycline has no antibacterial effect on intestinal flora
Article first published online: 6 OCT 2005
DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-051X.2005.00840.x
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How to Cite
Walker, C., Preshaw, P. M., Novak, J., Hefti, A. F., Bradshaw, M. and Powala, C. (2005), Long-term treatment with sub-antimicrobial dose doxycycline has no antibacterial effect on intestinal flora. Journal of Clinical Periodontology, 32: 1163–1169. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-051X.2005.00840.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 6 OCT 2005
- Article first published online: 6 OCT 2005
- Accepted for publication 18 July 2005
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Keywords:
- antibiotics;
- doxycycline;
- human flora;
- microbiology;
- sub-antimicrobial dosage
Abstract
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.