Comparison of the therapeutic effects of different antibacterial drugs combined in the treatment of adult brucellosis patients

Qian SUN; Lei FENG; Xiaowei ZHANG

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To compare the efficacy of different antibacterial drugs combined in the treatment of adult brucellosis patients.

Methods:

Using a prospective design, 60 adult brucellosis patients admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University from January 2018 to December 2021 were selected as the study subjects. They were randomly divided into an observation group ( n = 30) and a control group ( n = 30) using a random number table method. The observation group was treated with rifampicin combined with minocycline, and the control group was given rifampicin combined with doxycycline. The course of treatment in both groups was 6 weeks. The efficacy and clinical symptom disappearance time between the two groups, as well as the blood white blood cell count (WBC), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, and serum interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels before and after treatment, and the occurrence of adverse reactions were compared.

Results:

The total effective rate of the observation group (96.67%, 29/30) was higher than that of the control group (73.33%, 22/30), with a statistically significant difference (χ 2 = 4.71, P = 0.030). The disappearance time of joint pain, hyperhidrosis, gastrointestinal reactions, and fever in the observation group were shorter than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant ( P < 0.05). After treatment, the blood WBC and ALT levels in both groups decreased compared to before treatment ( P < 0.05). After treatment, the blood WBC and ALT levels in the observation group were lower than those in the control group ( P < 0.001). The levels of serum IFN-γ and IL-10 were both decreased after treatment compared to before treatment in two groups, while IL-4 level increased compared to before treatment ( P < 0.05). The levels of serum IFN-γ and IL-10 in the observation group were lower than those of the control group, while IL-4 level was higher than that of the control group ( P < 0.001). The incidence of adverse reactions in the observation group (13.33%, 4/30) was lower than that in the control group (36.67%, 11/30), and the difference was statistically significant (χ 2 = 4.36, P = 0.037).

Conclusion:

The combination of rifampicin and minocycline in the treatment of adult brucellosis patients has good efficacy and can reduce serum IFN-γ and IL-10 levels and increase IL-4 level with few adverse reactions.