Recruiting

RiCSA Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic Study of Early Rickettsia Clearance in Murine Typhus or Scrub Typhus Patients Treated with Doxycycline or Azithromycin

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What is being tested

Doxycyclin

+ Azithromycin

Drug
Who is being recruted

Vector Borne Diseases+10

+ Bacterial Infections and Mycoses

+ Bacterial Infections

Over 18 Years
See all eligibility criteria
How is the trial designed

Treatment Study

Phase 2 & 3
Interventional
Study Start: November 2024
See protocol details

Summary

Principal SponsorLao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital Wellcome Trust Research Unit
Study ContactWeerawat Phuklia, PhDMore contacts
Last updated: January 28, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Study start date: November 1, 2024

Actual date on which the first participant was enrolled.

The study investigates how well two antibiotics, doxycycline and azithromycin, work in treating murine typhus and scrub typhus. Murine typhus is spread by fleas from rodents, while scrub typhus is spread by mites. Both diseases are caused by bacteria and can be severe if not treated properly. The study is important because it aims to better understand which antibiotic is more effective in clearing the bacteria from the body early on and how these antibiotics impact the severity of the disease. Accurate diagnosis and effective treatment are crucial, as the diseases can be difficult to identify and have varying death rates. Participants in the study will receive either doxycycline or azithromycin to treat their typhus infection. The antibiotics are likely given orally. The effectiveness of the treatment will be measured by checking how quickly and effectively the bacteria are cleared from the body using molecular detection methods like PCR. The study does not mention specific risks but aims to provide more reliable information on how these antibiotics work against the bacteria, potentially leading to better treatment strategies and outcomes for patients. By understanding the treatment response, the study hopes to improve patient care and guide future treatment protocols.

Official TitleA Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic Study of Early Rickettsia Clearance in Murine Typhus or Scrub Typhus Patients Treated with Doxycycline or Azithromycin
Principal SponsorLao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital Wellcome Trust Research Unit
Study ContactWeerawat Phuklia, PhDMore contacts
Last updated: January 28, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Protocol

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.
Design Details

72 patients to be enrolled

Total number of participants that the clinical trial aims to recruit.

Treatment Study

These studies test new ways to treat a disease, condition, or health issue. The goal is to see if a new drug, therapy, or approach works better or has fewer side effects than existing options.


Eligibility

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria: person's general health condition or prior treatments.
Conditions
Criteria

Any sex

Biological sex of participants that are eligible to enroll.

Over 18 Years

Range of ages for which participants are eligible to join.

Healthy volunteers allowed

If individuals who are healthy and do not have the condition being studied can participate.

Conditions

Pathology

Vector Borne DiseasesBacterial Infections and MycosesBacterial InfectionsCommunicable DiseasesInfectionsPathologic ProcessesRickettsia InfectionsRickettsiaceae InfectionsScrub TyphusPathological Conditions, Signs and SymptomsTyphus, Endemic Flea-BorneGram-Negative Bacterial InfectionsDisease Attributes

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Age above or equal 18 years * Able to take oral medication * Rapid test positive for murine typhus or scrub typhus * Agrees to stay in hospital for at least 36 hours and to attend for scheduled follow up visits * Written informed consent to participate in the study * A negative urinary pregnancy test for all women of child-bearing age Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnancy or breast feeding * Previous allergic reaction to doxycycline or azithromycin * Received more than one dose of chloramphenicol, doxycycline, tetracycline, fluoroquinolones, rifampicin or azithromycin during this hospital admission or more than one dose of any of these drugs in the week before admission * Contraindication to doxycycline: severe hepatic impairment, known SLE * Contraindication to azithromycin: sever hepatic impairment * Severe typhus defined as the presence of one or more of the following: 1. Reduced level of consciousness 2. Clinical jaundice 3. Shock (BP systolic \<80 mmHg) 4. Unable to take oral medication 5. Radiological evidence of pneumonia 6. Clinical evidence for meningitis/encephalitis or the need of LP 7. Alternative diagnosis confirmed that explains the presenting symptoms 8. Any other syndrome which in the opinion of the admitting doctor constitutes severe typhus (reason must be stated)

Study Plan

Find out more about all the medication administered in this study, their detailed description and what they involve.
Treatment Groups
Study Objectives

2 intervention groups are designated in this study

This study does not include a placebo group 

Treatment Groups

Group I

Active Comparator
Doxycycline (Vibramycin, 100-mg film-coated tablets; Pfizer)) 200-mg loading dose, followed by 100 mg every 12 hours for 3 days.

Group II

Active Comparator
Azithromycin (Zithromax, 250-mg capsules; Pfizer) with a 500-mg loading dose, followed by 250 mg every 24 hours for 2 days. This will be followed by three days of doxycycline at the dose in A.

Study Objectives

Primary Objectives

Secondary Objectives

Study Centers

These are the hospitals, clinics, or research facilities where the trial is being conducted. You can find the location closest to you and its status.

This study has 2 locations

Recruiting

Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit (LOMWRU)

Vientiane, LaosOpen Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit (LOMWRU) in Google Maps
Recruiting

Vientiane Provincial Hospital

Vientiane Province, Laos
Recruiting
2 Study Centers