Administration of a triple versus a standard double antimicrobial regimen for human brucellosis more efficiently eliminates bacterial DNA load.

The effects of doxycycline-streptomycin-rifampin versus a standard doxycycline-streptomycin regimen on residual Brucella DNA were compared in 36 acute brucellosis patients. At admission, all patients given triple (n = 22) and double (n = 14) regimens had detectable Brucella DNA with similar mean loads (P = 0.982). At follow-up, 14 to 20 months postpresentation, significantly more patients receiving triple than double regimens had undetectable Brucella DNA (P = 0.026). The doxycycline-streptomycin-rifampin regimen eliminates Brucella DNA more efficiently than doxycycline-streptomycin, which may result in superior long-term clearance of Brucella.