minocycline and Leptospirosis

We report a patient with leptospirosis caused by infection with Leptospira interrogans serovar Rachmati. A 30-year-old Japanese man took part in a survival camp on Iriomote Island, Okinawa, from July 9 to July 15, 2014. During the camp, he swam in the river and kayaked. He developed a high fever and fatigue 7 days after completing his trip and was admitted to our hospital on July 22. On admission, he complained of a posterior cervical pain and a loss of appetite. Laboratory findings revealed granulocytosis, mildly elevated AST and ALT levels, elevated BUN and Cr levels, and a significantly elevated CRP level. No pathogenic bacteria were isolated from blood, urine, or cerebrospinal fluid cultures. We included leptospirosis in the differential diagnosis because of the patient's history of participating in a survival camp on Iriomote Island. Minocycline 200 mg, p.o. showed an excellent efficacy. The Leptospira flagellar gene FlaB was detected using a cerebrospinal fluid PCR. A microscopic agglutination test (MAT) during the convalescent stage demonstrated significant increases in antibodies against L. interrogans serovar Rachmati, confirming the diagnosis of leptospirosis. A medical history including occupation and recent travel history, and an adequate specimen sampling are crucial for the accurate and early diagnosis of leptospirosis.

Topics: Adult; Antibodies, Bacterial; Cerebrospinal Fluid; Humans; Leptospira; Leptospirosis; Male; Minocycline; Polymerase Chain Reaction

Leptospirosis is a widespread zoonotic infection characterized by acute febrile illness. Severely ill patients may require empiric treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics prior to definitive diagnosis. We evaluated the efficacy of minocycline and tigecycline against leptospirosis in a hamster model. Hamsters were treated with either minocycline (5, 10, or 25 mg/kg per day) or tigecycline (5, 10, or 25 mg/kg per day) for 5 days. Controls included untreated animals and doxycycline-treated animals (5 mg/kg per day). Nine days after infection, all untreated animals were dead. All treated hamsters survived to the end of study (day 21). Study groups showed significantly improved survival compared to the untreated group (P < .01). Minocycline and tigecycline showed survival benefit comparable to the standard treatment, doxycycline. In the absence of doxycycline, minocycline may be considered as an alternative, while tigecycline may be useful in the management of severely ill patients prior to a definitive diagnosis.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cricetinae; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Leptospirosis; Mesocricetus; Minocycline; Survival Analysis; Tigecycline; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

We report a patient with leptospirosis caused by Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Sejroe infection on Bali Island, Indonesia. This 33-year-old Japanese man had stayed at a resort hotel on the island from July 8 to July 13 2004. At the hotel, he swam in the pool, walked barefoot, and lied down in the grass. He developed a high fever and headache 7 days after completing his trip, and was admitted to our hospital on July 23. On admission he showed conjunctival suffusion and complained of myalgias. Laboratory findings included granulocytosis and elevated CRP. Plasmodium spp. were not found in blood smears, and no pathogenic bacteria were isolated from blood or fecal cultures. We diagnosed the patient as leptospirosis upon detection of slender coiled organisms with characteristic morphology by darkfield examination of blood sample. Minocycline 100 mg i.v.b.i.d. showed excellent efficacy. A microscopic agglutination test (MAT) during the convalescent stage demonstrated a significant increase in antibodies against L. borgpetersenii serovar Sejroe, confirming the diagnosis of leptospirosis. Despite occurrence of a pandemic of leptospirosis in certain Southeast Asian countries including Indonesia, information concerning pandemic disease is limited. In addition serovars of "imported" cases representing infection in pandemic areas differ widely from those in domestic cases. Adequate laboratory support therefore is crucial for accurate diagnosis of leptospirosis.

Topics: Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antibodies, Bacterial; Humans; Immunologic Tests; Indonesia; Leptospira; Leptospirosis; Male; Minocycline; Travel

Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Fever; Hemoptysis; Hemorrhage; Humans; Kidney; Leg; Leptospirosis; Liver; Lung Diseases; Male; Minocycline; Muscle, Skeletal; Pain; Radiography, Thoracic; Respiratory Distress Syndrome; Tomography, X-Ray Computed