Post-exposure prophylaxis with doxycycline to prevent bacterial sexually transmitted infections
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Reviewed by Dat Tien Nguyen, B.A, ScM.
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Posted on April 12th, 2023
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Bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STI) like chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea can increase the susceptibility to HIV infection. Thus, it is essential to prevent and treat these STIs. Doxycycline is a low-cost antibiotic that has limited drug-to-drug interactions. Thus, the National Institute of Health had commissioned a study to investigate the possibility of using doxycycline as a post-exposure prophylaxis.
The study included 501 participants who were randomly assigned to receive either placebo or doxycycline. The study participants were advised to take 1 tablet of placebo or 200 mg doxycycline within 24 hours after unprotected intercourse. The trial participants were followed up for 12 months, and check-up visits were scheduled every 3 months. The researchers found that doxycycline helped reduce the risk of bacterial sexually transmitted infection by approximately 20%. In terms of safety, there was no significant difference between the rate of adverse events between the two groups.
The study included 501 participants who were randomly assigned to receive either placebo or doxycycline. The study participants were advised to take 1 tablet of placebo or 200 mg doxycycline within 24 hours after unprotected intercourse. The trial participants were followed up for 12 months, and check-up visits were scheduled every 3 months. The researchers found that doxycycline helped reduce the risk of bacterial sexually transmitted infection by approximately 20%. In terms of safety, there was no significant difference between the rate of adverse events between the two groups.