The effect of adjunctive use of azithromycin with non-surgical periodontal therapy

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the difference of outcome of non-surgical root surface debridement done along with adjective use of systemic antibiotics i.e. Azithromycin 500mg once a day for three days. Material and Methods: A retrospective cohort study of adult patients diagnosed with chronic periodontitis. Twenty- nine patients were selected based on inclusion/ exclusion criteria, who were treated at the hospital and medicated with azithromycin from January 2014 to May 2015. Data was collected from their notes for base-line and after three months (3/12) reassessment. The patients were categorized according to depth of the pockets and behavioral factors like smoking and the differences between the baseline 3/12 reassessment were determined. Results: Good response of treatment was seen in the reassessment for the nonsmokers group (median of 39), whereas the smoker group showed a satisfactory difference between base-line and reassessment, showing a median of 24 that may correspond to the less number of subjects in this group. While a good difference was seen in the former smoker group showing a median of 35. Conclusions: Good response was seen in terms of pocket depth reduction, gingival health and patient compliance, with the adjunctive use of azithromycin with non-surgical periodontal therapy in patients treated for moderate to severe periodontitis.