Comparison of Penicillin Therapy in Leptospirosis Patients

Abstract

A crossectional study was conducted in Sawang Daen Din Crowned Prince Hospital, Sakon Nakhon province. Data on duration of signs and symptoms of 100 patient suspected of having  leptospirosis were collected after penicillin treatment during July to September 2001. Intravenous penicillin 1.5 million units every 6 hours are recommended by the World Health Organization as a standard treatment for leptospirosis. Investigator interviewed and examined all patients every day with the aim to document results of the penicillin therapy. Fourteen patients were confirmed leptospirosis cases by a standard laboratory method. Five most common serogroup (serovars) were Australis (bratislava), Shermani (shermani), Cynopteri (cynopteri), Javanica (javanica) and Louisiana (louisiana). Age, sex ratio, occupation, mean duration of signs and symptoms after penicillin treatment in leptospirosis patients were not any significantly different from those of other patients. However, leptospirosis patients had 4 times significantly higher prevalence of open wounds and coming into contact with water or mud than that of other patients (p <0.05). It was shown that the penicillin treatment is appropriate for leptospirosis suspected cases.