Other
Rx only
To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of doxycycline hyclate and other antibacterial drugs, doxycycline hyclate should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by bacteria.
Gram-Negative Bacteria
Acinetobacter species
Bartonella bacilliformis
Brucella species
Calymmatobacterium granulomatis
Campylobacter fetus
Enterobacter aerogenes
Escherichia coli
Francisella tularensis
Haemophilus ducreyi
Haemophilus influenzae
Klebsiella species
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Shigella species
Vibrio cholerae
Yersinia pestis
Gram-Positive Bacteria
Bacillus anthracis
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Anaerobic Bacteria
Clostridium species
Fusobacterium fusiforme
Propionibacterium acnes
Other Bacteria
Nocardiae and other aerobic Actinomyces species
Borrelia recurrentis
Chlamydophila psittaci
Chlamydia trachomatis
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Rickettsiae
Treponema pallidum
Treponema pertenue
Ureaplasma urealyticum
Parasites
Balantidium coli
Entamoeba species
Plasmodium falciparum
Doxycycline has been found to be active against the asexual erythrocytic forms of Plasmodium falciparum, but not against the gametocytes of P. falciparum. The precise mechanism of action of the drug is not known.
Susceptibility Testing Methods
When available, the clinical microbiology laboratory should provide the results of in vitro susceptibility test results for antimicrobial drugs used in resident hospitals to the physician as periodic reports that describe the susceptibility profile of nosocomial and community-acquired pathogens. These reports should aid the physician in selecting the most effective antimicrobial.
Dilution Techniques
Quantitative methods are used to determine antimicrobial minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). These MICs provide estimates of the susceptibility of bacteria to antimicrobial compounds. The MICs should be determined using a standardized test method1,2,4 (broth or agar). The MIC values should be interpreted according to criteria provided in Table 1.
Diffusion Techniques
Quantitative methods that require measurement of zone diameters can also provide reproducible estimates of the susceptibility of bacteria to antimicrobial compounds. The zone size provides an estimate of the susceptibility of bacteria to antimicrobial compounds. The zone size should be determined using a standardized test method1,3,4. This procedure uses paper disks impregnated with 30-mcg doxycycline to test the susceptibility of microorganisms to doxycycline. The disk diffusion interpretive criteria are provided in Table 1.
Anaerobic Techniques
For anaerobic bacteria, the susceptibility to doxycycline can be determined by a standardized test method5. The MIC values obtained should be interpreted according to the criteria provided in Table 1.
| Bacteria Organisms susceptible to tetracycline are also considered susceptible to doxycycline. However, some organisms that are intermediate or resistant to tetracycline may be susceptible to doxycycline. | Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (mcg/mL) | Zone Diameter (mm) | Agar Dilution (mcg/mL) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | I | R | S | I | R | S | I | R | |
| Acinetobacter spp. Doxycycline Tetracycline | ≤4 ≤4 | 8 8 | ≥16 ≥16 | ≥13 ≥15 | 10-12 12-14 | ≤9 ≤11 | - - | - - | - - |
| Anaerobes Tetracycline | - | - | - | - | - | - | ≤4 | 8 | ≥16 |
| Bacillus anthracis The current absence of resistance isolates precludes defining any results other than "Susceptible". If isolates yielding MIC results other than susceptible, they should be submitted to a reference laboratory for further testing. Doxycycline Tetracycline | ≤1 ≤1 | - - | - - | - - | - - | - - | - - | - - | - - |
| Brucella species Doxycycline Tetracycline | ≤1 ≤1 | - - | - - | - - | - - | - - | - - | - - | - - |
| Enterobacteriaceae Doxycycline Tetracycline | ≤4 ≤4 | 8 8 | ≥16 ≥16 | ≥14 ≥15 | 11-13 12-14 | ≤10 ≤11 | - - | - - | - - |
| Francisella tularensis Doxycycline Tetracycline | ≤4 ≤4 | - - | - - | - - | - - | - - | - - | - - | - - |
| Haemophilus influenzae Tetracycline | ≤2 | 4 | ≥8 | ≥29 | 26-28 | ≤25 | - | - | - |
| Mycoplasma pneumoniae Tetracycline | - | - | - | - | - | - | ≤2 | - | - |
| Nocardiae and other aerobic Actinomyces species Doxycycline | ≤1 | 2-4 | ≥8 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Neisseria gonorrhoeae Gonococci with 30 mcg tetracycline disk zone diameters of <19 mm usually indicate a plasmid-mediated tetracycline resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolate. Resistance in these strains should be confirmed by a dilution test (MIC ≥ 16 mcg/mL). Tetracycline | - | - | - | ≥38 | 31-37 | ≤30 | ≤0.25 | 0.5-1 | ≥2 |
| Streptococcus pneumoniae Tetracycline | ≤2 | 4 | ≥8 | ≥23 | 19-22 | ≤18 | - | - | - |
| Vibrio cholerae Doxycycline Tetracycline | ≤4 ≤4 | 8 8 | ≥16 ≥16 | - - | - - | - - | - - | - - | - - |
| Yersinia pestis Doxycycline Tetracycline | ≤4 ≤4 | 8 8 | ≥16 ≥16 | - - | - - | - - | - - | - - | - - |
| Ureaplasma urealyticum Tetracycline | - | - | - | - | - | - | ≤1 | - | ≥2 |
A report of Susceptible (S) indicates that the antimicrobial is likely to inhibit growth of the pathogen if the antimicrobial compound reaches the concentrations at the infection site necessary to inhibit growth of the pathogen. A report of Intermediate (I) indicates that the result should be considered equivocal, and, if the bacteria is not fully susceptible to alternative, clinically feasible drugs, the test should be repeated. This category implies possible clinical applicability in body sites where the drug product is physiologically concentrated or in situations where high dosage of drug can be used. This category also provides a buffer zone that prevents small uncontrolled technical factors from causing major discrepancies in interpretation. A report of Resistant (R) indicates that the antimicrobial is not likely to inhibit growth of the pathogen if the antimicrobial compound reaches the concentrations usually achievable at the infection site; other therapy should be selected.
Quality Control
Standardized susceptibility test procedures require the use of laboratory controls to monitor and ensure the accuracy and precision of the supplies and reagents used in the assay, and the techniques of the individuals performing the test1,2,3,4,5,6,7. Standard doxycycline and tetracycline powders should provide the following range of MIC values noted in Table 2. For the diffusion technique using the 30 mcg doxycycline disk the criteria noted in Table 2 should be achieved.
| QC Strain | Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (mcg/mL) | Zone Diameter (mm) | Agar Dilution (mcg/mL) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 Doxycycline Tetracycline | 2 - 8 8 - 32 | - - | - - |
| Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 Doxycycline Tetracycline | 0.5 - 2 0.5 - 2 | 18 - 24 18 - 25 | - - |
| Haemophilus influenzae ATCC 49247 Tetracycline | 4 - 32 | 14 - 22 | - |
| Neisseria gonorrhoeae ATCC 49226 Tetracycline | - | 30 - 42 | 0.25 - 1 |
| Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 Doxycycline Tetracycline | - - | 23 - 29 24 - 30 | - - |
| Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 Doxycycline Tetracycline | 0.12 - 0.5 0.12 - 1 | - - | - - |
| Streptococcus pneumoniae ATCC 49619 Doxycycline Tetracycline | 0.015 - 0.12 0.06 - 0.5 | 25 - 34 27 - 31 | - - |
| Bacteroides fragilis ATCC 25285 Tetracycline | - | - | 0.12 - 0.5 |
| Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron ATCC 29741 Tetracycline | - | - | 8 - 32 |
| Mycoplasma pneumoniae ATCC 29342 Tetracycline | 0.06 - 0.5 | - | 0.06 - 0.5 |
| Ureaplasma urealyticum ATCC 33175 Tetracycline | - | - | ≥8 |
Treatment:
Doxycycline is indicated for the treatment of the following infections:
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever, typhus fever and the typhus group, Q fever, rickettsialpox, and tick fevers caused by Rickettsiae.
- Respiratory tract infections caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae.
- Lymphogranuloma venereum caused by Chlamydia trachomatis.
- Psittacosis (ornithosis) caused by Chlamydophila psittaci.
- Trachoma caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, although the infectious agent is not always eliminated, as judged by immunofluorescence.
- Inclusion conjunctivitis caused by Chlamydia trachomatis.
- Uncomplicated urethral, endocervical, or rectal infections in adults caused by Chlamydia trachomatis.
- Nongonococcal urethritis caused by Ureaplasma urealyticum.
- Relapsing fever due to Borrelia recurrentis.
- Chancroid caused by Haemophilus ducreyi.
- Plague due to Yersinia pestis.
- Tularemia due to Francisella tularensis.
- Cholera caused by Vibrio cholerae.
- Campylobacter fetus infections caused by Campylobacter fetus (formerly Vibrio fetus).
- Brucellosis due to Brucella species (in conjunction with streptomycin).
- Bartonellosis due to Bartonella bacilliformis.
- Granuloma inguinale caused by Calymmatobacterium granulomatis.
- Escherichia coli.
- Enterobacter aerogenes (formerly Aerobacter aerogenes).
- Shigella species.
- Acinetobacter species.
- Respiratory tract infections caused by Haemophilus influenzae.
- Respiratory tract and urinary tract infections caused by Klebsiella species.
- Upper respiratory infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (formerly Diplococcus pneumoniae).
- Anthrax due to Bacillus anthracis, including inhalational anthrax (post-exposure): to reduce the incidence or progression of disease following exposure to aerosolized Bacillus anthracis.
- Uncomplicated gonorrhea caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
- Syphilis caused by Treponema pallidum.
- Yaws caused by Treponema pertenue.
- Listeriosis due to Listeria monocytogenes.
- Vincent's infection caused by Fusobacterium fusiforme.
- Actinomycosis caused by Actinomyces israelii.
- Infections caused by Clostridium species.
Doxycycline is also indicated for the treatment of infections caused by the following gram-negative microorganisms:
Because many strains of the following groups of microorganisms have been shown to be resistant to doxycycline, culture and susceptibility testing are recommended.
Doxycycline is indicated for treatment of infections caused by the following gram-negative bacteria, when bacteriologic testing indicates appropriate susceptibility to the drug:
Doxycycline is indicated for treatment of infections caused by the following gram-positive microorganisms when bacteriologic testing indicates appropriate susceptibility to the drug:
When penicillin is contraindicated, doxycycline is an alternative drug in the treatment of the following infections:
In acute intestinal amebiasis, doxycycline may be a useful adjunct to amebicides.
In severe acne, doxycycline may be useful adjunctive therapy.
Prophylaxis:
Doxycycline is indicated for the prophylaxis of malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum in short-term travelers (<4 months) to areas with chloroquine and/or pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine resistant strains. (See DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION section and Information for Patients subsection of the PRECAUTIONS section.)
Pregnancy: Teratogenic Effects. Pregnancy Category D:
There are no adequate and well-controlled studies on the use of doxycycline in pregnant women. The vast majority of reported experience with doxycycline during human pregnancy is short-term, first trimester exposure. There are no human data available to assess the effects of long-term therapy of doxycycline in pregnant women, such as that proposed for treatment of anthrax exposure. An expert review of published data on experiences with doxycycline use during pregnancy by TERIS – the Teratogen Information System – concluded that therapeutic doses during pregnancy are unlikely to pose a substantial teratogenic risk (the quantity and quality of data were assessed as limited to fair), but the data are insufficient to state that there is no riska. A case-control study (18,515 mothers of infants with congenital anomalies and 32,804 mothers of infants with no congenital anomalies) shows a weak but marginally statistically significant association with total malformations and use of doxycycline anytime during pregnancy. Sixty-three (0.19%) of the controls and fifty-six (0.30%) of the cases were treated with doxycycline. This association was not seen when the analysis was confined to maternal treatment during the period of organogenesis (i.e., in the second and third months of gestation) with the exception of a marginal relationship with neural tube defect based on only two exposed casesb.
A small prospective study of 81 pregnancies describes 43 pregnant women treated for 10 days with doxycycline during early first trimester. All mothers reported their exposed infants were normal at 1 year of agec.
Manufactured by:
MUTUAL PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY, INC.
Philadelphia, PA 19124 USA
Rev 06, September 2013