Role of pristinamycin in adult acute community-acquired pneumonia

Alternative to beta-lactams: Due to the rapid and increasing development of resistance in the two main bacteria, S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae, it i s important to determine whether pristinamycin, with known efficacy against these germs, could be a useful alternative to beta-lactams for the treatme nt of adult acute community-acquired pneumonia. Pristinamycin vs amoxicillin/clavulanic acid: A double-blind placebo-contro lled randomized multicentric study with two treatment arms enrolling hospit alized patients was conducted. Pristinamycin, 1 g b.i.d., demonstrated an e fficacy equivalent to that of the amoxicillin/clavulanic acid combination, 500 mg x 4/d. In clinical practice: Pristinamycin is effective for the treatment of commu nity-acquired pneumonia. Comparative studies including a large number of pe nicillin-resistant pneumococci remain to be performed, but the first intent ion use of pristinamycin is already fully warranted in patients at risk tre ated in an outpatient setting.