Influence of common antibiotics (amoxicillin / clavulanate, clarithromycin, imipenem / cilastatin), on the clinical course of pulmonary TB and community-acquired pneumonia

Abstract

Summary. This was the first retrospective clinical study of efficacy of common antibiotics (amoxicillin / clavulanate, clarithromycin, imipenem / cilastatin) administered ex juvantibus to differentiate pulmonary tuberculosis and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Administration of these antibiotics in 162 patients with confirmed pulmonary TB led to significant activation of pulmonary inflammation, extended infiltration of the lung tissue, cavitation and bronchogenic dissemination, culturing of M. tuberculosis from sputum and clinical worsening of the disease. On contrary, in 108 patients with CAP, the same antibiotics resulted in resolution of pulmonary infiltrates and relief of signs of the disease. Amoxicillin / clavulanate, clarithromycin and imipenem / cilastatin were proven not to have any effect on M. tuberculosis including those with MDR; they do not pertain to antiTB chemotherapeutic drugs.