Psittacosis (Parrot Fever) Medication

Updated: Jul 24, 2019
  • Author: Klaus-Dieter Lessnau, MD, FCCP; Chief Editor: Michael Stuart Bronze, MD  more...
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Medication

Medication Summary

The goals of pharmacotherapy are to reduce morbidity and to prevent complications.

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Antibiotics

Class Summary

Empiric antimicrobial therapy must be comprehensive and should cover all likely pathogens in the clinical setting. Tetracycline and doxycycline are the antibiotics of choice. Treating patients for 2-3 weeks usually prevents relapse. Clinical response occurs within 24-72 hours. Use erythromycin in children younger than 9 years and in pregnant women. Chloramphenicol is a third alternative antibiotic.

Doxycycline remains the drug of choice. Macrolide and quinolone failures have been observed.

Azithromycin (Zithromax)

Anecdotal reports suggest that it is effective. Acts by binding to 50S ribosomal subunit of susceptible microorganisms and blocks dissociation of peptidyl tRNA from ribosomes, causing RNA-dependent protein synthesis to arrest. Nucleic acid synthesis is not affected.

Concentrates in phagocytes and fibroblasts as demonstrated by in vitro incubation techniques. In vivo studies suggest that concentration in phagocytes may contribute to drug distribution to inflamed tissues.

Treats mild-to-moderate microbial infections.

Plasma concentrations are very low, but tissue concentrations are much higher, giving it value in treating intracellular organisms. Has a long tissue half-life.

Doxycycline (Vibramycin)

DOC; inhibits protein synthesis and thus bacterial growth by binding to 30S and possibly 50S ribosomal subunits of susceptible bacteria. Continue treatment for at least 2 wk to prevent relapse.

Erythromycin (E-Mycin, Ery-Tab, E.E.S.)

Macrolide antibiotic; second DOC. Inhibits bacterial growth, possibly by blocking dissociation of peptidyl t-RNA from ribosomes, causing RNA-dependent protein synthesis to arrest. For treatment of staphylococcal and streptococcal infections. In children, age, weight, and severity of infection determine proper dosage. When bid dosing is desired, administer half total daily dose q12h. For more severe infections, double the dose.

Chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin)

Third DOC but rarely used in the US. Binds to 50S bacterial-ribosomal subunits and inhibits bacterial growth by inhibiting protein synthesis. Effective against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria.

Moxifloxacin (Avelox)

Inhibits the A subunits of DNA gyrase, resulting in inhibition of bacterial DNA replication and transcription. Anecdotal reports suggest that this drug is effective.

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