INITIAL (6-MONTH) RESULTS OF 3-TIMES-WEEKLY AZITHROMYCIN IN TREATMENTREGIMENS FOR MYCOBACTERIUM-AVIUM COMPLEX LUNG-DISEASE IN HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS-NEGATIVE PATIENTS

Two consecutive, open, prospective trials of intermittent azithromycin (600 mg), usually given Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (TIW) for Mycob acterium avium complex (MAC) lung disease were initiated in human immu nodeficiency virus-negative patients. Regimen A consisted of TIW azith romycin and daily ethambutol (15 mg/kg/day), daily rifabutin (300 mg/d ay), and initial twice weekly (BIW) streptomycin. Regimen B consisted of TIW azithromycin, TIW ethambutol (25 mg/kg/dose), TIW rifabutin (60 0 mg/dose), and initial BIW streptomycin. Of 19 patients enrolled in r egimen A who completed at least 6 months of therapy, 14 (74%) had sput um samples become culture-negative. Of 39 patients enrolled in regimen B who completed at least 6 months of therapy, 24 (62%) had sputum con version, These sputum conversion rates are comparable to previous rate s at 6 months in patients receiving daily clarithromycin- or azithromy cin-containing regimens. No resistance to azithromycin emerged with ei ther regimen. This is the first study to demonstrate the efficacy of i ntermittent administration of medication for MAC lung disease.