Antibiotic susceptibility of rickettsia and treatment of rickettsioses.

The author describes the in vitro data for antibiotic susceptibility of Rickettsia and Coxiella burnetti. Tetracyclines are still the first antibiotic choice in spotted fevers, typhus and Q fever. In spotted fever a shortened treatment is suggested and the place of macrolide antibiotics, such as Josamycin, in treating children may be evaluated. In Q fever, according to the new biological data, an association of tetracyclines and Rifampin or Quinolones is suggested.