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Tetracycline (Tetracycline Hydrochloride) - Summary

 
 



TETRACYCLINE SUMMARY

Tetracycline is an antibacterial drug.

To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of tetracycline hydrochloride and other antibacterial drugs, tetracycline hydrochloride should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria. When culture and susceptibility information are available, they should be considered in selecting or modifying antibacterial therapy. In the absence of such data, local epidemiology and susceptibility patterns may contribute to the empiric selection of therapy.

Tetracycline is indicated in the treatment of infections caused by susceptible strains of the designated organisms in the conditions listed below:

  • Upper respiratory tract infections caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Hemophilus influenzae. Note: Tetracycline should not be used for streptococcal disease unless the organism has been demonstrated to be susceptible.
  • Lower respiratory tract infections caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Eaton agent, and Klebsiella sp.)
  • Skin and soft tissue infections caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureaus. (Tetracyclines are not the drugs of choice in the treatment of any type of staphylococcal infections.)
  • Infections caused by rickettsia including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, typhus group infections, Q fever, rickettsialpox.
  • Psittacosis or ornithosis caused by Chlamydia Psittaci.
  • Infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis such as uncomplicated urethral, endocervical or rectal infections, inclusion conjunctivitis, trachoma, and lymphogranuloma venereum.
  • Granuloma inquinale caused by Calymmatobacterium granulomatis.
  • Relapsing fever caused by Borrelia sp.
  • Bartonellosis caused by Bartonella bacilliformis.
  • Chancroid caused by Hemophilus ducreyi.
  • Tularemia caused by Francisella tularensis.
  • Plaque caused by Yersinia pestis.
  • Cholera caused by Vibrio cholerae.
  • Brucellosis caused by Brucella species (tetracycline may be used in conjunction with an aminoglycoside).
  • Infections due to Campylobacter fetus.
  • As adjunctive therapy in intestinal amebiasis caused by Entamoeba histolytica.
  • Urinary tract infections caused by susceptible strains of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, etc.
  • Other infections caused by susceptible gram-negative organisms such as E. coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Shigella sp., Acinetobacter sp., Klebsiella sp., and Bacteroides sp.
  • In severe acne, adjunctive therapy with tetracycline may be useful.

When penicillin is contraindicated, tetracyclines are alternative drugs in the treatment of the following infections:

  • syphilis and yaws caused by Treponema pallidum and pertenue, respectively,
  • Vincent’s infection caused by Fusobacterium fusiforme,
  • infections caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae,
  • anthrax caused by Bacillus anthracis,
  • infections due to Listeria monocytogenes,
  • actinomycosis caused by Actinomyces species,
  • infections due to Clostridium species.

See all Tetracycline indications & dosage >>

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Published Studies Related to Tetracycline

Efficacy comparison between povidone iodine 2.5% and tetracycline 1% in prevention of ophthalmia neonatorum. [2011.07]
PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of povidone iodine solution 2.5% and tetracycline ointment 1% in prevention of ophthalmia neonatorum (ON). DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled observational study. PARTICIPANTS: Three-hundred ninety-four full-term neonates... CONCLUSIONS: Povidone iodine was associated with noninfective (sterile) conjunctivitis, probably because of its toxicity to the ocular surface in neonates. Tetracycline was marginally more effective against infective ON. For these reasons, tetracycline, rather than povidone iodine, is recommended for prevention of ON. Copyright (c) 2011 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Helicobacter pylori eradication with a capsule containing bismuth subcitrate potassium, metronidazole, and tetracycline given with omeprazole versus clarithromycin-based triple therapy: a randomised, open-label, non-inferiority, phase 3 trial. [2011.03.12]
BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori is associated with benign and malignant diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract, and increasing antibiotic resistance has made alternative treatments necessary. Our aim was to assess the efficacy and safety of a new, single-capsule treatment versus the gold standard for H pylori eradication... INTERPRETATION: Quadruple therapy should be considered for first-line treatment in view of the rising prevalence of clarithromycin-resistant H pylori, especially since quadruple therapy provides superior eradication with similar safety and tolerability to standard therapy. FUNDING: Axcan Pharma Inc. Copyright (c) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Modulation of cytokine and cytokine receptor/antagonist by treatment with doxycycline and tetracycline in patients with dengue fever. [2011]
Dengue virus infection can lead to dengue fever (DF) or dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF)... Further analysis demonstrated that doxycycline was significantly more effective at modulating cytokine and cytokine receptor/antagonist levels than tetracycline.

Clinical, histologic, and bacteriologic findings in dairy cows with digital dermatitis (footwarts) one month after topical treatment with lincomycin hydrochloride or oxytetracycline hydrochloride. [2010.09.01]
OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of lincomycin and oxytetracycline for treatment of digital dermatitis (DD) in dairy cows through gross visual examination, histologic evaluation, and bacteriologic evaluation...

In vivo effects of adjunctive tetracycline treatment on refractory corneal ulcers in dogs. [2010.08.15]
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate effect of adjunctive treatment with tetracycline analogues on time to complete corneal reepithelialization in dogs with nonhealing (ie, refractory) corneal ulcers... CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Topical tetracycline ophthalmic ointment was a safe, inexpensive, and effective adjunctive treatment for refractory corneal ulcers in dogs.

more studies >>

Clinical Trials Related to Tetracycline

Tetracycline as a Prophylaxis for Rash in Patients With NSCLC Receiving Treatment With BIBW 2992 [Recruiting]
1. Advanced NSCLC have a poor prognosis and the positive impact of chemotherapy is limited by the development of intrinsic and acquired resistance. 2. Over the past decade, less toxic agents such as the innovative targeted therapies, i. e. erlotinib or gefitinib, have the potential to improve the effectiveness and keep a good quality of life with a low toxicity 3. BIBW 2992, an aniline-quinazoline, is an EGFR and HER-2 irreversible inhibitor, and it has activity against erlotinib-resistant isoforms having mutations in EGFR and HER-2 4. This molecule have shown benefits as a single agent in pre-treated patients who have progressed despite platinum-based chemotherapy, with a minimal toxicity compared to chemotherapy 5. BIBW 2992 is associated with adverse effects similar to those for erlotinib and gefitinib, such as rash and diarrhea. These symptoms can reduce the quality of life in patients and lead to inconsistent EGFR inhibitor dose administration 6. There is no a standard treatment for rash, but case reports have tried to demonstrate the benefit obtained with alcohol-free emollients, sunscreen with titanium dioxide or antibiotic (topic or oral) treatment such as clindamycin or doxycycline, anti-inflammatory drugs such as steroids and isotretinoin in the treatment of these cutaneous injuries. 7. In order to reduce the incidence and severity of cutaneous toxicities, we will compare the prophylactic antibiotic treatment using tetracycline and general dermatological recommendations versus using only dermatological recommendations, in patients initiating the treatment with BIBW 2992

Intralesional Tetracycline Injection in the Treatment of Chalazia [Not yet recruiting]
The investigators propose a study to investigate the role of tetracycline injection into chalazia versus observation alone. The investigators hypothesize tetracycline injection will result in a significant decrease in lesion size when compared to observation alone.

Root Biomodification With Citric Acid and Tetracycline Improves the Outcomes of Root Coverage [Completed]

Tetracycline in Preventing Skin Rash in Patients Who Are Receiving Drugs Such as Gefitinib and Cetuximab for Cancer [Completed]
RATIONALE: Tetracycline may be effective in preventing skin rash that is caused by treatment with drugs such as gefitinib or cetuximab. PURPOSE: This randomized clinical trial is studying tetracycline to see how well it works compared to placebo in preventing skin rash in patients who are receiving drugs such as gefitinib or cetuximab for cancer.

The Effect of Tetracycline in Degradation and Permeability of Collagen Membrane [Completed]
The main objective of this study was to evaluate the histological impact of treatment with tetracycline (TTC) solution of two layers collagen membranes (CMs) bio-degradation, in ridge preservation technique (RPT). Additionally, secondary objectives were to evaluate the effect of TTC on bacterial colonization and inflammatory response. This is a randomized simple-blind clinical trial. Consecutive patients referred to the Department of Periodontology at Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (Barcelona, Spain), between November 2009 and April 2011, were included in the study. This study was based on data collected from 20 surgical sites in 10 systemically healthy patients requiring 2 extractions with SPT. Before starting the surgery, the two teeth of each selected patient were randomized in two groups. The test group underwent RPT with CMs embedded with TTC solution (CMs TTC), and the control group was performed without TTC solution (CMs NO TTC). Randomization was performed using SPSS software (version 18, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). In the test group, both membranes were first dipped for 5 minutes in TTC solution (50 mg/ml). This involved the use of 250 mg tablets of TTC and 5 ml of saline that were mixed in a sterile trough. A sample of the membrane used in each SPT was retained as a negative control sample. The membrane sample was retrieved 7 days after initial surgery. At 14 days the suture was removed and a new control was performed within 1 month. A sample from the negative control, test and control group was analyzed from each patient. The specimens were fixed in a 10% formalin solution, dehydrated in a series of alcohols, embedded in paraffin, and sectioned in 4-5μ. The sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and examined with an Olympus BH-2 optical microscope. The stained sections were photographed with a digital camera mounted on an optical microscope at magnification (x100, x200 and x400). According to the findings of the present study, we can conclude that CMs exhibit rapid degradation when exposed to the oral environment. Histological interpretation suggests that CMs immersed in 50mg/ml TTC solution delay the CM degradation when exposed to the oral environment. Statistical evaluation did not show any difference in bacterial colonization and inflammatory response, but the findings may also be affected by the limited sample size. The limits of the present study are the absence of histomorphometric analysis, the sample size, and the lack of a long-term evaluation with clinical evidence of the advantages of this technique. More clinical studies in humans are require to confirm the effect of TTC in CMs degradation before we can make recommendations.

more trials >>

Reports of Suspected Tetracycline Side Effects

Drug Hypersensitivity (4)Hepatotoxicity (2)Liver Function Test Abnormal (2)Skin Lesion (2)Hypocalcaemia (2)Blood Cholesterol Increased (2)Drug Resistance (2)Rash (2)Cushing's Syndrome (2)Periorbital Oedema (2)more >>


PATIENT REVIEWS / RATINGS / COMMENTS

Based on a total of 12 ratings/reviews, Tetracycline has an overall score of 5.67. The effectiveness score is 6.50 and the side effect score is 7.17. The scores are on ten point scale: 10 - best, 1 - worst. Below are selected reviews: the highest, the median and the lowest rated.
 

Tetracycline review by 42 year old male patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Razor Bumps
Dosage & duration:   Once per day, rub onto the skin (dosage frequency: once per day) for the period of 9 months
Other conditions:   None
Other drugs taken:   None
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   The product took great care of my razor bumps. If I applied it at night, I was clear by the morning. I only stopped taking it as the condition itself lessened.
Side effects:   None
Comments:   I would apply it to my skin, after washing, either at night (best time), or in the morning. I would also use a good spf to protect my skin from sun in the day

 

Tetracycline review by 42 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Moderately Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   skin acne
Dosage & duration:   500mg taken 2 tablets per day for the period of 2 years
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   some clearing of acne but not completely. re-occurrence still happened. Scarring was still there. Overall, did not feel that effectiveness was best. Possibly a more natural cure would have been better.
Side effects:   yellowing of teeth. some nausea. doctor warned of side effects and medication was still taken.
Comments:   taking tablets but also doing warm compresses on affected areas of skin. also went for extraction treatment. It is possible that the extractions were not done properly so that is why the scarring remained.

 

Tetracycline review by 55 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Marginally Effective
Side effects:   Extremely Severe Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   ulcer
Dosage & duration:   1 every six hours (dosage frequency: once) for the period of 2 days
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   metronidazole
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   cant say because I had to stop taking it after just 2 days due to severe after effects
Side effects:   excrutiaing stomach/intestinal pain
Comments:   The drug was prescribed for treating H-pylori infection but it caused ore severe pain than hte ailment itself. It was too strong a drug for me and I had to be switced erothromycin and amoxcillin after only 2 days of tetracycline combo. It also made me dizzy.

See all Tetracycline reviews / ratings >>

Page last updated: 2011-12-09

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