From the Guidelines
Doxycycline is effective in treating certain gastrointestinal infections, including those caused by bacterial pathogens such as Yersinia, Campylobacter, and Shigella 1.
Treatment Regimens
The recommended dose for adults is 100 mg orally every 12 hours for 7-14 days, depending on the severity and type of infection.
- For example, in the treatment of Campylobacter enteritis, doxycycline 100 mg orally every 12 hours for 7 days is a commonly prescribed regimen.
- Additionally, doxycycline is also recommended for the treatment of cholera, with a single dose or a short course of treatment being effective 1.
Important Considerations
It is essential to note that the use of antibiotics, including doxycycline, should be guided by the severity of the infection, the type of pathogen, and the patient's overall health status 1.
- In cases of severe disease or immunocompromised patients, alternative treatment regimens, such as fluoroquinolones or cephalosporins, may be necessary 1.
- Furthermore, the increasing resistance to fluoroquinolones among certain bacterial pathogens, such as Campylobacter spp., highlights the need for careful selection of antibiotics and consideration of alternative treatment options 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
Treatment: Doxycycline is indicated for the treatment of the following infections: ... Cholera caused by Vibrio cholerae (formerly Vibrio comma). Campylobacter fetus infections caused by Campylobacter fetus (formerly Vibrio fetus). In acute intestinal amebiasis, doxycycline may be a useful adjunct to amebicides.
Doxycycline may be used to treat certain gastrointestinal infections, including:
- Cholera caused by Vibrio cholerae
- Campylobacter fetus infections
- Acute intestinal amebiasis (as an adjunct to amebicides) 2
From the Research
Gastrointestinal Infections and Doxycycline
- Doxycycline is an antibiotic that has been studied for its effectiveness in treating various infections, including gastrointestinal infections.
- A study published in 1990 3 found that doxycycline prophylaxis did not prevent or increase diarrheal disease in soldiers deployed to Thailand, where enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) and other bacterial pathogens are often resistant to tetracyclines.
- However, a review published in 1982 4 suggested that doxycycline is effective in the prevention of traveler's diarrhea.
Mechanism of Action and Efficacy
- Doxycycline displays excellent activity against gram-positive and gram-negative aerobic and anaerobic pathogens 4.
- The antibiotic has been shown to be highly effective in infections of the respiratory tract, skin and soft tissue, genitourinary infection, and intraabdominal infection 4.
- A scoping review published in 2023 5 found that doxycycline showed promising results in the treatment of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections, with clinical and microbiologic improvements achieved in 81.3% and 87% of patients, respectively.
Gastrointestinal Side Effects
- Doxycycline has been associated with gastrointestinal side effects, including esophagitis, which may be related to the duration of therapy 6.
- A study published in 2023 6 found that the incidence of gastrointestinal adverse effects was significantly higher in patients who received a daily dose of 200 mg of doxycycline compared to those who received 100 mg.
- Vascular injury has been characterized as a feature of doxycycline-induced upper gastrointestinal tract mucosal injury 7.