Fixed Drug Eruption Due to Doxycycline Postexposure Prophylaxis

Doxycycline is a semi-synthetic antibiotic in the tetracycline family. The three common subtypes of tetracyclines include naturally occurring, semi-synthetic, and new agents. Each subtype shares specific commonalities but is substantially different in various clinical applications. The mechanism of...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lee Nguyen, Catherine Diamond
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Pharmacoepidemiology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0618/3/4/28
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846103120219734016
author Lee Nguyen
Catherine Diamond
author_facet Lee Nguyen
Catherine Diamond
author_sort Lee Nguyen
collection DOAJ
description Doxycycline is a semi-synthetic antibiotic in the tetracycline family. The three common subtypes of tetracyclines include naturally occurring, semi-synthetic, and new agents. Each subtype shares specific commonalities but is substantially different in various clinical applications. The mechanism of antimicrobial activity is the same across subtypes. The structural changes to the core naphthacene ring do not alter the mechanism of action but are thought to alter the rates of adverse effects and mechanisms of resistance. Tetracyclines as a class are known to cause fixed drug eruptions, but the majority of these adverse effects were associated with naturally occurring tetracyclines. Semi-synthetic tetracyclines have limited reports of fixed drug eruptions. Here, we present a case of fixed drug eruption in a patient who previously had multiple treatment courses with doxycycline. The case involves the use of doxycycline not for the treatment of an infection but as postexposure prophylactic (PEP) antibiotic therapy to prevent the acquisition of a sexually transmitted infection. Doxycycline PEP has been shown to reduce the rate of bacterial sexually transmitted infection in men who have sex with men (MSM). Doxycycline PEP is a single dose taken orally within 24–72 h of unprotected sexual intercourse. The dosing structure allows for ease of adherence but also repeatedly exposes individuals to doxycycline, putting them at risk for adverse events such as fixed drug eruptions, as illustrated by this case report.
format Article
id doaj-art-0c57cf9a20d84453a2ce82b4e20ffd00
institution Kabale University
issn 2813-0618
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Pharmacoepidemiology
spelling doaj-art-0c57cf9a20d84453a2ce82b4e20ffd002024-12-27T14:46:47ZengMDPI AGPharmacoepidemiology2813-06182024-12-013439440210.3390/pharma3040028Fixed Drug Eruption Due to Doxycycline Postexposure ProphylaxisLee Nguyen0Catherine Diamond1Department of Clinical Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USADepartment of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92868, USADoxycycline is a semi-synthetic antibiotic in the tetracycline family. The three common subtypes of tetracyclines include naturally occurring, semi-synthetic, and new agents. Each subtype shares specific commonalities but is substantially different in various clinical applications. The mechanism of antimicrobial activity is the same across subtypes. The structural changes to the core naphthacene ring do not alter the mechanism of action but are thought to alter the rates of adverse effects and mechanisms of resistance. Tetracyclines as a class are known to cause fixed drug eruptions, but the majority of these adverse effects were associated with naturally occurring tetracyclines. Semi-synthetic tetracyclines have limited reports of fixed drug eruptions. Here, we present a case of fixed drug eruption in a patient who previously had multiple treatment courses with doxycycline. The case involves the use of doxycycline not for the treatment of an infection but as postexposure prophylactic (PEP) antibiotic therapy to prevent the acquisition of a sexually transmitted infection. Doxycycline PEP has been shown to reduce the rate of bacterial sexually transmitted infection in men who have sex with men (MSM). Doxycycline PEP is a single dose taken orally within 24–72 h of unprotected sexual intercourse. The dosing structure allows for ease of adherence but also repeatedly exposes individuals to doxycycline, putting them at risk for adverse events such as fixed drug eruptions, as illustrated by this case report.https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0618/3/4/28doxycyclinepostexposure prophylaxisfixed drug eruption
spellingShingle Lee Nguyen
Catherine Diamond
Fixed Drug Eruption Due to Doxycycline Postexposure Prophylaxis
Pharmacoepidemiology
doxycycline
postexposure prophylaxis
fixed drug eruption
title Fixed Drug Eruption Due to Doxycycline Postexposure Prophylaxis
title_full Fixed Drug Eruption Due to Doxycycline Postexposure Prophylaxis
title_fullStr Fixed Drug Eruption Due to Doxycycline Postexposure Prophylaxis
title_full_unstemmed Fixed Drug Eruption Due to Doxycycline Postexposure Prophylaxis
title_short Fixed Drug Eruption Due to Doxycycline Postexposure Prophylaxis
title_sort fixed drug eruption due to doxycycline postexposure prophylaxis
topic doxycycline
postexposure prophylaxis
fixed drug eruption
url https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0618/3/4/28
work_keys_str_mv AT leenguyen fixeddrugeruptionduetodoxycyclinepostexposureprophylaxis
AT catherinediamond fixeddrugeruptionduetodoxycyclinepostexposureprophylaxis