AZITHROMYCIN AND ERYTHROMYCIN IN THE TREATMENT OF CERVICAL CHLAMYDIALINFECTION DURING PREGNANCY

Objective: To compare azithromycin and erythromycin in regard to side effects, intolerance, and cure rate in a pregnant population with chla mydial cervicitis. Methods: Thirty women were randomized to receive ei ther erythromycin, 500 mg orally four times a day for 7 days, or azith romycin, 1g orally as one dose. All subjects completed questionnaires identifying the incidence of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pai n, and anorexia. Posttreatment cultures were taken from all subjects. Results: All subjects receiving erythromycin reported two or more gast rointestinal side effects, versus none in the azithromycin group (P<.0 01). Five of 15 subjects in the erythromycin treatment arm were intole rant to the 500-mg dose given four times a day, compared to none in th e azithromycin group (P<.025), so the dosage was lowered to 250 mg fou r times a day to complete the course. Repeat cervical testing demonstr ated similar cure rates for both medications: 100 and 93% (14 of 15) f or azithromycin and erythromycin, respectively. Conclusion: These data suggest that azithromycin is a valid treatment option in pregnant pat ients who cannot tolerate erythromycin because of side effects.