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Uses

Respiratory Tract Infections

Treatment of respiratory tract infections caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Treatment of respiratory tract infections caused by Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, or Klebsiella. Should only be used for treatment of infections caused by these bacteria when in vitro susceptibility tests indicate the organism is susceptible.

Acinetobacter Infections

Treatment of infections caused by Acinetobacter; minocycline may be the preferred tetracycline for use as an alternative to imipenem or meropenem.

Acne

Adjunctive treatment of moderate to severe inflammatory acne. Not indicated for treatment of noninflammatory acne.

Actinomycosis

Treatment of actinomycosis caused by Actinomyces israelii; oral tetracyclines used as follow-up after initial parenteral treatment with penicillin G.

Amebiasis

Adjunct to amebicides for treatment of acute intestinal amebiasis. Tetracyclines generally not recommended for treatment of amebiasis caused by Entamoeba.

Anthrax

Alternative to doxycycline for treatment of inhalational anthrax when a parenteral regimen is not available (e.g., when there are supply or logistic problems because large numbers of individuals require treatment in a mass casualty setting). A multiple-drug parenteral regimen (ciprofloxacin or doxycycline and 1 or 2 other anti-infectives predicted to be effective) is preferred for treatment of inhalational anthrax that occurs as the result of exposure to anthrax spores in the context of biologic warfare or bioterrorism.

Bartonella Infections

Treatment of infections caused by Bartonella bacilliformis.

Brucellosis

Treatment of brucellosis; tetracyclines considered drugs of choice. Used in conjunction with other anti-infectives (e.g., streptomycin or gentamicin and/or rifampin), especially for severe infections or when there are complications (e.g., endocarditis, meningitis, osteomyelitis).

Campylobacter Infections

Treatment of infections caused by Campylobacter. Tetracyclines are alternatives, not drugs of choice.

Chancroid

Treatment of chancroid caused by Haemophilus ducreyi. Not included in CDC recommendations for treatment of chancroid.

Chlamydial Infections

Treatment of uncomplicated urethral, endocervical, or rectal infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. Doxycycline is the preferred tetracycline for treatment of these infections, including presumptive treatment of chlamydial infections in patients with gonorrhea.

Treatment of trachoma and inclusion conjunctivitis caused by C. trachomatis. Consider that anti-infectives may not eliminate C. trachomatis in all cases of chronic trachoma.

Treatment of lymphogranuloma venereum (genital, inguinal, or anorectal infections) caused by C. trachomatis. Doxycycline is the preferred tetracycline for these infections.

Treatment of psittacosis (ornithosis) caused by C. psittaci. Doxycycline and tetracycline are drugs of choice. For initial treatment of severely ill patients, use IV doxycycline.

Clostridium Infections

Alternative for treatment of infections caused by Clostridium. Tetracyclines are alternatives to metronidazole or penicillin G for adjunctive treatment of C. tetani infections.

Enterobacteriaceae Infections

Treatment of infections caused by susceptible Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Klebsiella, or Shigella. Should only be used for treatment of infections caused by these common gram-negative bacteria when other appropriate anti-infectives are contraindicated or ineffective and when in vitro susceptibility tests indicate the organism is susceptible.

Fusobacterium Infections

Alternative to penicillin G for the treatment of infections caused by Fusobacterium fusiforme (Vincent's infection).

Gonorrhea and Associated Infections

Alternative for treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhea (including urethritis) caused by susceptible Neisseria gonorrhoeae. However, tetracyclines are considered inadequate therapy and are not recommended by CDC for treatment of gonorrhea.

Granuloma Inguinale (Donovanosis)

Treatment of granuloma inguinale (donovanosis) caused by Calymmatobacterium granulomatis. Doxycycline is the tetracycline recommended as drug of choice by CDC.

Listeria Infections

Alternative for treatment of listeriosis caused by Listeria monocytogenes. Not usually considered a drug of choice or alternative for these infections.

Nongonococcal Urethritis

Treatment of nongonococcal urethritis (NGU) caused by Ureaplasma urealyticum, C. trachomatis, or Mycoplasma. Doxycycline usually is the tetracycline of choice for NGU.

Consider that some cases of recurrent urethritis following treatment may be caused by tetracycline-resistant U. urealyticum.

Plague

Treatment of plague caused by Yersinia pestis. Regimen of choice is streptomycin or gentamicin (with or without doxycycline).

Relapsing Fever

Treatment of relapsing fever caused by Borrelia recurrentis. Tetracyclines are drugs of choice.

Rickettsial Infections

Treatment of rickettsial infections including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, typhus fever and the typhus group, Q fever, rickettsialpox, and tick fevers caused by Rickettsiae. Tetracyclines are drugs of choice for treatment of most rickettsial infections; doxycycline usually is the preferred tetracycline.

Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion

Treatment of syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion† (SIADH). Only limited value in patients with acute water intoxication caused by excess ADH secretion, but may be effective in inhibiting the action of ADH in patients with chronic form of the disease.

Also has been used to treat hyponatremia and water retention† in patients with congestive heart failure or cirrhosis, but a high incidence of renal failure has been reported and the drug probably should not be used in these patients.

Syphilis

Alternative to penicillin G for treatment of primary, secondary, latent, or tertiary syphilis (not neurosyphilis) in nonpregnant adults and adolescents hypersensitive to penicillins. Doxycycline and tetracycline are the preferred tetracyclines in patients hypersensitive to penicillins. Use tetracyclines only if compliance and follow-up can be ensured since efficacy not well documented.

Tularemia

Treatment of tularemia caused by Francisella tularensis. Tetracyclines considered alternatives to streptomycin (or gentamicin); risk of relapse and primary treatment failure may be higher than with aminoglycosides.

Vibrio Infections

Treatment of cholera caused by Vibrio cholerae. Doxycycline and tetracycline are drugs of choice; used as an adjunct to fluid and electrolyte replacement in moderate to severe disease.

Yaws

Alternative to penicillin G for treatment of yaws caused by Treponema pertenue.