Evaluation of Effectiveness of Doxycycline as Empirical Therapy for Treatment in Acute Undifferentiated Febrile Illnesses in Routine Clinical Practice: A Retrospective, EMR-based, Real-world Study

Abstract

Background: Tetracyclines, in particular doxycycline, are recommended for the treatment of patients with acute undifferentiated febrile illness (AUFI); however, real-world studies are scarce. Methods: This retrospective, multicenter, observational study reviewed electronic medical records (April 2018 to March 2021) of adult patients (outpatient and inpatient departments [OPD and IPD]) with AUFI, treated with doxycycline monotherapy (doxycycline group) or doxycycline in combination with other antimicrobials (combination therapy group), from 7 tertiary hospitals and clinics in India. Results: Overall, 473 patients were included; 73.8% and 26.2% patients were prescribed doxycycline alone or in combination with other antimicrobials, respectively. Defervescence was achieved in 65.6% and 57.3% patients, respectively at the second (8-14 days) follow-up visit. Clinical cure rate for symptomatic resolution varied between 89.6% and 100% in OPD settings. Time taken from treatment initiation to defervescence was 3.51 ± 3.16 days for the doxycycline group and 3.46 ± 3.07 days for the combination therapy group. Both groups showed improvements in body temperature in OPD settings (84.2% and 84.5%) as well as IPD settings (97.4% and 94.1%). Adverse events in OPD patients in both groups were nausea (7.8% and 8.7%), anorexia (1.6% and 33.0%) and dyspepsia (1.6% and 67.9%). Conclusion: Doxycycline appears to be a promising candidate for treating patients with AUFI due to its demonstrated real-world effectiveness and safety profile.