Prophylactic antibiotic use to prevent Weil’s Disease after immersion in water
Date First Published:
May 10, 2009
Last Updated:
November 30, 2011
Report by:
Graham Ellis, Acting Consultant Emergency Medicine (Royal Preston Hospital)
Search checked by:
Alison Robinson, Royal Preston Hospital
Three-Part Question:
After [immersion in water] should [prophylactic antibiotics] be given to prevent [infection from Leptospirosis]?
Clinical Scenario:
A drainage engineer comes to the Emergency Department following a fall and total immersion in standing water. He is concerned about Weil's disease. You do not know whether prophylactic antibiotics are of any use in disease prevention.
Search Strategy:
MEDLINE(R) Ovid interface 1950-September week 4 2011
Google Scholar
EMBASE
Google Scholar
EMBASE
Search Details:
[(exp Immersion)OR(immersion.mp)OR(exp water)OR(water.mp)OR(exp Fresh Water)OR(exp Water Supply)OR(river.mp)OR(stream.mp)OR(exp Near Drowning)OR(exp Drowning)] AND [(rat adj urine)OR(leptospirosis.mp)OR(exp Leptospirosis)OR(exp Leptospira interrogans)OR(exp Weil)OR(weils adj syndrome)OR(exp Leptospira interrogans serovar canicola)OR(canicola fever.mp)OR(seven day fever.mp)] AND [(antibiotics.mp)OR(exp Anti-bacterials)OR(exp Anti-bacterial Agents)OR(anti-microbials.mp)OR(exp Antibiotic prophylaxis)OR(prophylactic antibiotics.mp)]
LIMIT to Humans
LIMIT to Humans
Outcome:
30 articles.
4 were of relevance to the scenario
4 were of relevance to the scenario
Relevant Paper(s):
| Study Title | Patient Group | Study type (level of evidence) | Outcomes | Key results | Study Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| An efficacy trial of doxycycline chemoprophylaxis against leptospirosis Takafuji E, Kirkpatrick J, Miller R, Karwacki J, Kelley P, Gray M et al Feb 23 1984 US | military personnel undergoing jungle training . 469 given prophylactic Doxycycline vs 471 given placebo | Double-blinded placebo-controlled trial | Number who developed symptoms compatible with Leptosira infection up to 6/52 post exposure and had positive lab result | Doxycycline group 1 (0.2%) vs placebo 20 (4.2%). p<0.001 | Relevant mainly to high risk area. Population very different from UK general population. Specific symptoms asked rather than allowed to freely express. |
| Use of doxycycline for leptospirosis after high-risk exposure in Sao Paulo Gonzalez C, Casseb J, Monteiro G, Paula-Neto J, Fernandez R, Silva M et al 1998 Brazil | 82 residents of an area with a high risk of flooding and leptospira infection randomised into 40 taking prophylactic doxycycline vs 42 placebo following flooding | Double-blind randomised control trial | Doxycycline vs placebo for leptospira infection confirmed clinically and from lab results, asymptomatic infection, suspected clinical infection and the positive protective effect of doxycycline. | Doxycycline vs placebo: confirmed 2 v 5, asymptomatic 11 vs 6, suspected 6 vs 5. Protective RR2.3 CI 0.4-11.5 | Low numbers. Underpowered. Very high risk area cf risk in UK. |
| Randomised control trial of doxycycline prophylaxis against leptospirosis in an endemic area Sehgal S, Sugunan A, Murhekar M, Sharma P, Vijayachari P 2000 India | 386 people over 10 years took prophylactic doxycycline vs 396 with placebo in high risk area for endemic leptospira infection | Double blind randomised control trial | Evidence of leptospiral infection and symptomatic leptospiral infection in the 2 groups | Evidence of infection, doxycycline group vs placebo: 112 vs 101 p=0.27; clinical infection, doxycycline vs placebo 12 vs 27 p=0.017 | No evidence of intention to treat Population investigated often had background evidence of leptospiral infection |
| Leptospirosis in Eco-Challenge athletes, Malaysian Borneo,2000. Sejvar J,Bancroft E, Winthrop K, et al Jun-03 US | 80 athletes who had completed multiple outdoor activities in Malaysia and had symptoms of possible leptospirosis compared with 109 controls | Retrospective survey | Protective effect of doxycycline; independent risk factors for leptospiral infection | protective effect RR0.4, 95%CI 0.1-1.1, p=0.1; independent risk factor, swimming in Segama River RR 2.0 CI 1.3-3.1 | Low numbers especially those who had taken antibiotics 38% of those taking part in the activities not contacted Retrospective Inclusion criteria bias from how participants sourced |
Author Commentary:
All these trials were carried out in parts of the world with endemic leptospiral infection and so the effect of good evidence of decreased infection following prophylactic doxycycline would not necessarily import well to the UK. There is only consistant evidence that symptomatic infection is reduced as there was evidence of prior exposure in many of the trial subjects. It would therefore be prudent for UK nationals to take antibiotics if exposed to water immersion in an endemic area. In the UK the threat of infection must be lower
Bottom Line:
If there is immersion in an endemic area for leptospirosis, or if there is higher risk of water contamination e.g standing water, known rat infestation, drainage channels etc then doxycycline would have to be recommended. Other scenarios are not as clear
References:
- Takafuji E, Kirkpatrick J, Miller R, Karwacki J, Kelley P, Gray M et al. An efficacy trial of doxycycline chemoprophylaxis against leptospirosis
- Gonzalez C, Casseb J, Monteiro G, Paula-Neto J, Fernandez R, Silva M et al. Use of doxycycline for leptospirosis after high-risk exposure in Sao Paulo
- Sehgal S, Sugunan A, Murhekar M, Sharma P, Vijayachari P. Randomised control trial of doxycycline prophylaxis against leptospirosis in an endemic area
- Sejvar J,Bancroft E, Winthrop K, et al. Leptospirosis in Eco-Challenge athletes, Malaysian Borneo,2000.