Management of non-specific urethritis in men. Evaluation of six treatment regimens and effect of other factors including alcohol and sexual intercourse.

Abstract

A trial comparing the efficacy of 3 different tetracyclines, each in 2 different dosage regimens, in the treatment of non-specific [bacterial] urethritis is described. There was a significant association between the retreatment rate and sexual intercourse. Age, race, duration of symptoms, previous infection and indulgence in alcohol did not appear to influence the results whereas treatment of sexual contacts before resumption of sexual intercourse significantly reduced the retreatment rate. Single-dose treatment with doxycycline was ineffective. Treatment with doxycycline for 7 days or triple tetracycline for 7 days was less effective than triple tetracycline for 21 days or oxytetracyline for 7 or 21 days, all of which gave the same success rate.