Compliance with antibiotic therapy for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Control of bacterial sexually transmitted diseases (STD) depends on adequate antibiotic therapy. During a 4-week period, a survey concerning compliance was administered to all patients attending an STD clinic who were being treated with one of the standard antibiotic regimens for presumed gonococcal or chlamydial infections. Of the 497 eligible patients, 406 (81.7%) were surveyed between 24 hours and 72 hours after the end of treatment. Of those being treated with the standard 7-day regimen of tetracycline or erythromycin, 63.4% complied. Compliance was not associated with race, gender, symptoms, or antibiotic regimen. Those who were younger, were sexual contacts of an infected partner, or had gastrointestinal side effects were more likely not to comply with treatment.