Treatment of chancroid in resource-poor countries.

Abstract

Chancroid, formerly a major cause of the genital ulcer disease syndrome, remains an important cofactor in both the transmission and acquisition of HIV-1 infection. Those countries with the greatest burden of HIV also have some of the highest prevalence rates of chancroid worldwide. The diagnosis of chancroid, caused by the fastidious bacterium Haemophilus ducreyi, is both expensive and difficult in many resource-poor areas. These areas of the world use syndromic management to treat genital ulcers and such an approach has proven effective in reducing rates of bacterial genital ulcer diseases. There are currently inexpensive and effective single-dose therapies available to treat chancroid. Single-dose regimens, given at first presentation, improve compliance and reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections. Bacterial resistance to several antimicrobial agents has increased over the years and remains a continued threat to effective antimicrobial therapy. Follow-up of cases, and partner notification and treatment is carried out to limit reinfection and onward transmission of chancroid. Patients with coexistent HIV may be particularly at risk of failing single-dose therapy and should therefore be reviewed wherever possible.

• Authors: Naa Torshie Annan, David A Lewis
• Journal: Expert review of anti-infective therapy (Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther) Vol. 3 Issue 2 Pg. 295-306 (Apr 2005) ISSN: 1744-8336 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 15918786 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents

Topics

• Anti-Bacterial Agents (therapeutic use)
• Chancroid (drug therapy, epidemiology, physiopathology)
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Developing Countries
• Humans
• Treatment Failure