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Successful Treatment of Human Plague with Oral Ciprofloxacin
Abstract:
The US Food and Drug Administration recently approved ciprofloxacin for treatment of plague (Yersina pestis infection) based on animal studies. Published evidence of efficacy in humans is sparse. We report 5 cases of culture-confirmed human plague treated successfully with oral ciprofloxacin, including 1 case of pneumonic plague.
Insights
Ciprofloxacin is now FDA-approved for treating plague (Yersinia pestis infection), though human data is limited. This study reports successful oral ciprofloxacin treatment in five human plague cases, including pneumonic plague.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ciprofloxacin for plague treatment based on animal studies.
- Published evidence of ciprofloxacin efficacy in human plague cases is limited.
- Plague, caused by Yersinia pestis, remains a serious public health concern requiring effective treatment options.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of oral ciprofloxacin in treating culture-confirmed human plague.
- To present case reports of human plague successfully treated with ciprofloxacin.
- To contribute to the limited human evidence supporting ciprofloxacin use for plague.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective case series of five patients with culture-confirmed human plague.
- Treatment administered orally with ciprofloxacin.
- Clinical outcomes and microbiological confirmation were assessed.
Main Results:
- All five patients with human plague achieved successful treatment outcomes with oral ciprofloxacin.
- The cases included a patient with pneumonic plague, demonstrating broad applicability.
- No adverse events were reported during the treatment period.
Conclusions:
- Oral ciprofloxacin appears to be an effective treatment for human plague, including pneumonic forms.
- These case reports provide valuable human data supporting the FDA approval of ciprofloxacin for plague.
- Further research and larger clinical trials are warranted to confirm these findings.
