Original scientific paper

Safety and Effectiveness of Azithromycin in the Treatment of Lower Respiratory Infections: An International, Multicenter, Non-Comparative Study

Maja Gašparić ; Pliva Croatia Ltd, Zagreb, Croatia
Ana Penezić ; University Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
Adela Kolumbić-Lakoš ; Pliva Croatia Ltd, Zagreb, Croatia
Dražen Kovačić ; Pliva Croatia Ltd, Zagreb, Croatia
Mirjana Matrapazovski Kukuruzović ; Pliva Croatia Ltd, Zagreb, Croatia
Bruno Baršić ; Department of Neuroinfections and Intensive Care Unit, Dr. Fran Mihaljević University Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

The aim of this study was to describe clinical effectiveness of azithromycin in the management of lower respiratory tract infections in daily clinical practice, to examine duration of symptoms after therapy initiation, and to record any possible adverse effects of azithromycin treatment. A total of 153 patients were included in the analysis of the effectiveness of azithromycin: 94 patients with community acquired pneumonia (CAP) and 59 with acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis (AECB). Clinical effectiveness was assessed as improvement, cure or failure after three-day treatment with azithromycin. The assessment was based on a calculation of clinical score for each diagnosis before treatment and on days 4, 10 and 28 after treatment initiation. Clinical effectiveness of azithromycin was 93.6% in CAP group and 94.9% in AECB group. Azithromycin led to relief of symptoms within three days in 88.6% of CAP patients and 77.2% of AECB patients. Overall, 15 adverse events were reported in 14 (9.1%) patients. The most common adverse events were abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting, each reported in four (2.6%) patients. Accordingly, azithromycin was found to have high clinical effectiveness and a small number of adverse events in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections. ISRCTN38391551.

Keywords

Azithromycin – therapeutic use; Treatment outcome; Community-acquired infections – drug therapy; Pneumonia – drug therapy; Bronchitis, chronic – drug therapy

Hrčak ID:

145379

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/145379

Publication date:

1.7.2015.

Article data in other languages: croatian

Visits: 3.261 *