Efficacy of short course asythromycin in non-severe community-acquired pneumonia

Abstract

The study was aimed to evaluate clinical efficacy, safety, and tolerability of 3 day course of azythromycin (Zitrolid forte) in comparison with a stan dard 7 to 10 day therapy with amoxicillin (Flemoxin solutab) in patients with mild community acquired pneumonia (CAP). Included patients were randomized in 2 groups: 1) 20 patients taking Zitrolid 500 mg daily for 3 days (15 males, 5 females, mean age, 40.7 ± 18.4 yrs); 2) 20 patients taking amoxicillin 500 mg t.i.d. for 7 to 10 days (13 males, 7 females, mean age, 39.8 ± 12.5 yrs). Pneumonia was confirmed by chest X ray in all the patients. Severity of pneumonia was assessed with PSI score. In the 1st group, 12 (60 %) of patients had PSI class I and 8 (40 %) had PSI class II. In the 2nd group, there were 13 (65 %) and 7 (35 %), respectively. In the 1st group patients, improvement in clinical signs and laboratory parame ters was noted at the 3rd day of therapy and complete recovery was detected at the 7th day. The 2nd group patients demonstrated similar dynamics at the 7th and the 14th days, respectively. Microbiological efficacy of the drugs was equal (100 %). The drugs did not differ in rate of adverse events. Therefore, 3 day course of azythromycin in patients with mild CAP were as effective as standard (7 to 10 days) therapy with amoxicillin. Azythromycin (Zitrolid forte) was well tolerated with no serious adverse events requiring interruption the treatment.