From the Guidelines
The recommended treatment for Chlamydia is a course of antibiotics, with azithromycin 1g taken orally as a single dose or doxycycline 100mg taken orally twice daily for 7 days being the first-line treatments, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1.
Treatment Options
- Azithromycin 1g orally in a single dose
- Doxycycline 100mg orally twice a day for 7 days
Important Considerations
- Patients should complete the entire course of antibiotics even if symptoms resolve earlier
- Sexual partners from the past 60 days should also be treated to prevent reinfection
- Patients should abstain from sexual activity for 7 days after treatment completion and until all partners have been treated, as recommended by the CDC 1
- Follow-up testing is recommended 3-4 weeks after treatment to confirm cure, especially in pregnant women
Pregnancy Considerations
- Azithromycin is the preferred option for pregnant women, as doxycycline is contraindicated during pregnancy 1
Key Points
- Chlamydia responds well to antibiotics because they inhibit protein synthesis in the bacteria, preventing their reproduction and allowing the immune system to clear the infection
- The CDC updates treatment recommendations regularly, and clinicians should access the CDC website for the most up-to-date information 1
From the FDA Drug Label
Uncomplicated urethral, endocervical, or rectal infection in adults caused by Chlamydia trachomatis: 100 mg, by mouth, twice a day for 7 days. The recommended treatment for Chlamydia is doxycycline 100 mg, by mouth, twice a day for 7 days 2.
- The dose may be administered with food, including milk or carbonated beverage, as required.
- Doxycycline is the preferred treatment for uncomplicated Chlamydia infections.
From the Research
Chlamydia Treatment Options
- The recommended treatment for Chlamydia is either azithromycin or doxycycline, with doxycycline being the preferred option in many cases 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
Efficacy of Doxycycline vs Azithromycin
- Studies have shown that doxycycline has a higher microbiological cure rate than azithromycin for the treatment of rectal Chlamydia 4, 5, 6, 7.
- A systematic review and meta-analysis found that doxycycline had a higher cure rate than azithromycin, with a risk ratio of 1.21 (95% CI = 1.15-1.28) 7.
Treatment Guidelines
- Current treatment guidelines recommend either azithromycin 1g single dose or doxycycline 100mg twice daily for 7 days for the treatment of rectal Chlamydia 3.
- However, some studies suggest that a 7-day course of doxycycline may be more effective than a single dose of azithromycin for the treatment of rectal Chlamydia 4, 6.