A study to compare the role of various antibiotics in reducing the mortality and morbidity among patients with leptospirosis

Objectives To evaluate the effect of various antibiotics in reducing the mortality and early recovery from leptospirosis. Materials and Methods The present retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Believers Church Medical College Hospital with the prior approval of the Ethical Committee. The study duration was 6 months. Leptospirosis participants treated with bacteriostatic, bactericidal, or a combination of both bacteriostatic and bactericidal were included in the study. Data from January 2015 to June 2021 were extracted from the hospital records of Believers church medical college. Mortality and other various morbidity measures were analyzed and compared across various antibiotics. Results We collected 162 clinically suspected, laboratory-confirmed leptospirosis patient records. Hastened improvement was observed among patients with bacteriostatic agents rather than bactericidal agents. Bacteriostatic drugs performed better in “time to recovery” while comparing with bactericidal ( P = 0.001) and a combination (bacteriostatic and bactericidal) ( P = 0.006). The mortality rate was higher in bactericidal group than the other two groups. Conclusion In our study, recovery from leptospirosis is faster in patients treated with the bacteriostatic agents. The level of mortality was observed to be higher in patients treated with bactericidal but less in combination. Penicillin is the drug of choice in the early phase. Early diagnosis of leptospirosis is an essential but an unmet target for the better management of the illness. Bacteriostatic, irrespective of the cofactors present and delayed diagnosis is the better option to prevent mortality and faster recovery. Bacteriostatic, even in delayed diagnosed leptospirosis, irrespective of their comorbidity status, is a better option to prevent the mortality and faster recovery.