Azithromycin: Single 1.5 g dose in the treatment of patients with atypicalpneumonia syndrome - A randomized study

An open comparative study was undertaken in order to assess the efficacy an d safety of a single dose of azithromycin in the treatment of community-acq uired atypical pneumonia. A total of 100 adult patients with atypical pneum onia syndrome were randomized to receive 1.5 g of azithromycin as a single dose, or 500 mg once daily for 3 days. The presence of Mycoplasma pneumonia e, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Chlamydia psittaci, Coxiella burnetii, and Legione lla pneumophila infection was diagnosed by serological tests. Control clini cal examinations were performed 72 h, 10-12 days and 4 weeks after treatmen t initiation. Among 96 patients (48 in each group) who were evaluable for c linical efficacy M. pneumoniae infection was confirmed in 24, C. pneumonia in nine, c. psittaci in five, C. burnetii in six, and L. pneumophila in fiv e. Forty-seven patients (97.9%) in each group were cured. Side effects were observed in two patients in the single-dose group, and one patient in the 3-day group. In conclusion, a single 1.5 g dose of azithromycin may be an a lternative to the standard 3-day azithromycin regimen in the treatment of o utpatients with atypical pneumonia syndrome.