Comparison of efficacies of azithromycin & doxycycline as local drug delivery agents in treatment of chronic periodontitis − A clinical and microbiological study

Introduction: Periodontitis causes tissue destruction and host-microbial interactions can lead to dysbiosis. Nonsurgical periodontal therapy helps in eliminating microbial insult and adjunctive therapies like local drug administration comprising of antibiotics, pre- and probiotics and herbal therapy helps in better periodontal tissue healing.The present study aims at evaluation of efficacy of 0.5% azithromycin (AZM) and 5% doxycycline (DOX) as local drug delivery agents in the treatment of chronic periodontitis. Materials and methods: A total of 66 subjects diagnosed with chronic periodontitis were enrolled in this study. The subjects were randomly allocated into three groups. Group A consisted of 22 subjects who received full-mouth scaling and root planing with 0.5% AZM gel, Group B consisted of 22 subjects who received full-mouth scaling and root planing with 5% DOX gel, and Group C consisted of 22 subjects who received only full-mouth scaling and root planing. Results: 0.5% AZM and 5% DOX gel as local drug administration after scaling and root planing significantly reduced clinical and microbiological parameters as compared to only scaling and root planing group (p < 0.05%); however, intergroup comparison between the two drugs didn’t show any significant difference (p > 0.05%). Conclusion: The adjunctive use of 0.5% AZM and 5% DOX as drug delivery agents had enhanced clinical and microbiological results as compared to scaling and root planing alone.