Clarithromycin in the treatment of community-acquired lower respiratory tract infections.
Clarithromycin is a macrolide with in-vitro activity against the organisms usually responsible for community-acquired pneumonia and acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. Three double-blind controlled studies each in pneumonia and chronic bronchitis are reviewed. In pneumonia clarithromycin is as effective as erythromycin and in acute-on-chronic bronchitis is as effective as ampicillin. In an open study of 46 patients with pneumonia due to Legionella pneumophila, resolution occurred in 93% with no deaths. The incidence of adverse events was 20% in 3437 patients. These were rarely severe. Clarithromycin is better tolerated than erythromycin and its twice daily dosage is likely to lead to better patient compliance.
Newport Chest Clinic, Gwent.
G
G
Anderson
D000284:Administration, Oral; D017291:Clarithromycin; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology
D004917:Erythromycin; D017291:Clarithromycin