• Lala M Dunbar, Mohammed M Khashab, James B Kahn, Neringa Zadeikis, Jim X Xiang, and Alan M Tennenberg.
• Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans, LA, USA.
• Curr Med Res Opin. 2004 Apr 1;20(4):555-63.

BackgroundCurrent recommended durations for treatment of atypical community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) range from 10 to 21 days. However, antibiotics such as the fluoroquinolones may allow for effective, short-course regimens.ObjectiveThis study evaluated the efficacy of 750 mg levofloxacin for 5 days compared to a 500-mg, 10-day levofloxacin regimen for the treatment of atypical CAP.MethodsA randomized, active-controlled, double-blind, multicenter study was conducted within the United States. Of the 528 patients enrolled in the study, 149 were diagnosed with CAP due to Legionella pneumophila, Chlamydia pneumoniae, or Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Patients' baseline symptoms were re-evaluated on Day 3 of therapy. Clinical efficacy and resolution of CAP symptoms were evaluated at the posttherapy visit (7-14 days after the last dose of active drug).ResultsThis report represents a subgroup analysis of a previous clinical study. Among the 123 clinically evaluable patients diagnosed with atypical CAP (26 patients were unevaluable), the clinical success rates were 95.5% (63 of 66 patients) for the 750-mg group and 96.5% (55 of 57 patients) for the 500-mg group (95% CI for success rate of the 500-mg group minus that of the 750-mg group, -6.8 to 8.8). At the poststudy evaluation (31-38 days after treatment began), relapse occurred in ConclusionThe 750-mg, 5-day course of levofloxacin was at least as effective as the 500-mg, 10-day regimen for atypical CAP. Additionally, the 750-mg, short-course levofloxacin therapy may reduce total antimicrobial drug usage and more rapidly relieve pneumonia symptoms.

26 keywords...

hide…