Azithromycin in Non-Gonococcal Urethritis
ANGKANA CHAROENW ATANACHOKCHAI, M.D.*, THANIT PALANUVEJ, M.D.*, MALAI KHUMHAENG, C.L.A.*, ANUPONG CHITWARAKORN,M.D.,Dip. Ven.*, SOMSAK PAKDEEWONG,M.D.,M.P.H.*, MANU KREAURAT, C.L.A.**
Affiliation : * Venereal Disease Control Division, Department of Communicable Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Bangkok 10120, ** Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Science, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
Abstract The efficacy and safety of a single 1 g oral dose of azithromycin was evaluated in 100 male patients with non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU). Enrolled were men with ~ 5 polymor- phonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) I high power field (HPF) (x 1000 magnification) in a Gram-stained smear of urethral discharge with or without symptoms and signs of NGU. Of the 66 evaluable patients, Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated from 18 cases (27.3%) and Ureaplasma urealyticum from 12 cases (18.2% ). After treatment, signs and symptoms disappeared from 59 cases (89.4% ). Forty-four cases (66.7%) showed reduced PMNL/HPF. C. trachomatis was eradicated in 18 cases (1 00%) and U. urealyticum in 12 cases (83.3% ). One patient complained of mild dizziness, moderate nausea, and palpitations. Single 1 g oral dose of azithromycin appears to be effective and safe for treating chlamydia!, non-chlamydial, and ureaplasmal NGU. In addition, its ease of use encourages patient compliance.
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