Ciprofloxacin For Reactive Arthritis Has No Advantage Over Placebo
Although it is well known that certain gastrointestinal infections can cause a reactive arthritis, this study suggests that long term strong antibiotics do not help with symptoms. Unfortunately, these researchers have missed the evidence that suggests that it is not the infectious agent itself that causes the problems, but rather the environment set up by the presence of the infection. Adding strong antibiotics will just kill off more of the normal flora that’s supposed to be there, and evidence suggests that this flora may protect our bodies from the environment.
Ann Rheum Dis 2000;59:565-570 Treatment of reactive arthritis with a 3-month course of ciprofloxacin is no more beneficial than placebo, according to study results published in the July issue of Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. Antibiotic treatment of reactive arthritis is controversial, the investigators note. “Eradication of the causative microbe appears logical,” but previous studies have shown that “short-term antibiotic treatment has no beneficial effect on the outcome of reactive arthritis,” they write.