Efficacy of Macrolides in Moderate to High Risk Community Acquired Pneumonia

Abstract:

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) ranks 4th in all-cause morbidity and is the 3rd leading cause of mortality in the Philippines. For elderly patients and those with severe disease admitted for pneumonia, atypical pathogens like Legionella are said to be important etiologic consideration thus the recommendation of adding erythromycin IV or alternatively an oral macrolide to the antibiotic regimen. The general objective of the study is to determine the benefit of macrolides in category III (moderate risk) and category IV (high risk) CAP. The specific objectives are: 1. To compare in-hospital mortality of patients treated with and without macrolide; 2. To determine if addition of macrolides results in shorter length of hospitalization; 3. To determine if macrolides given within 8 hours of admission is associated with improved outcome; and 4. To determine if oral or intravenous (IV) macrolide is associated with improved outcome. Patients admitted and discharged for moderate to high-risk pneumonia at UERMMMC from January 2000 to October 2001 satisfying the criteria of the Task Force on Community-acquired Pneumonia Guideline were included in the study. If the patient requested to be discharged against medical advice (DAMA), was recently hospitalized (within 10 days) or inclusion criteria were not satisfied during the course of confinement despite an admitting impression of CAP, these patients were excluded from the study. Demographic data (age, sex), co-morbid conditions, physical examination findings and laboratory values such as compete blood count, chest x-ray, arterial blood gas, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, blood sugar, liver function …

Año de publicación:

Keywords:

Fuente:

google