3-DAY AZITHROMYCIN COMPARED WITH 10-DAY ROXITHROMYCIN TREATMENT OF ATYPICAL PNEUMONIA

An open, randomized, multicentre study compared the efficacy and safet y of 3-day azithromycin with 10-day roxithromycin far the treatment of atypical pneumonia. Azithromycin was administered 500 mg once daily t o 90 and roxithromycin 150 mg bid to 60 patients. Causative pathogens were identified by serological methods. In the azithromycin treatment group, Mycoplasma pneumoniae was identified in 65, Chlamydia spp. in 9 and Coxiella burnetti in 1 patient. In the roxithromycin treatment gr oup, M. pneumoniae was identified in 39, Chlamydia spp. in 9 and C. bu rnetti in 3 patients. 89 azithromycin and 53 roxithromycin patients we re eligible for efficacy analysis. Clinical cure rate was 98.9% in the azithromycin and 94.3% in the roxithromycin treatment group. Adverse events were observed in 3 patients in each group. Azithromycin appears to be as effective as roxithromycin for the treatment of atypical pne umonia. The 3-day azithromycin regimen may offer an additional advanta ge over 10-day roxithromycin by virtue of its more convenient administ ration.