Intravenous erythromycin in acute chest infections in critically ill patients.
Superinfections with resistant micro-organisms have recently become an increasing problem in hospital patients and are throught to be contributed to by inappropriate use of newer, broad-spectrum antibiotics. Erythromycin exhibits a more limited spectrum of antibacterial activity and was therefore re-evaluated in the treatment of acute chest infections in critically ill patients. Twenty-one patients were given erythromycin in a dose of 1.8 g per day by continuous intravenous infusion for up to five days. A satisfactory clinical response occurred in ten patients, in all of whom erythromycin-sensitive micro-organisms were isolated from sputum. An unsatisfactory response occurred in six patients, all associated with micro-organisms insensitive to erythromycin and requiring alternative antibiotic treatment. No undesirable side-effects were noted. It is concluded that erythromycin is a safe and useful agent in the routine treatment of acute chest infections in critically ill patients.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology
D004917:Erythromycin