A comparative study of dirithromycin and erythromycin in bacterial pneumonia.
Dirithromycin, a new once-daily macrolide, was studied in a multicentre, randomised, double-blind trial in community-acquired bacterial pneumonia. A total of 591 patients received either a single daily dose of dirithromycin, 500 mg, or erythromycin, 250 mg, four times daily. Clinical response rates were similar in both treatment groups (127 dirithromycin-treated and 118 erythromycin-treated patients): at the time of the final consultation, the clinical and bacteriological response rates for dirithromycin-treated patients were 94.5% and 93.0%, while for erythromycin-treated patients, they were 92.1% and 90.3%, respectively. The nature and frequency of treatment-emergent events were comparable. We conclude that dirithromycin, 500 mg, once daily, is safe and effective in the treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia. The once daily dose is likely to improve compliance, making it preferable to erythromycin.
Paimio Hospital, Preitilä, Finland.
K
K
Liippo
E
E
Tala
H
H
Puolijoki
O J
OJ
Brückner
J
J
Rodrig
J P
JP
Smits
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007877:Legionnaires' Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D018942:Macrolides; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011019:Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / Q000188:drug therapy
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D018942:Macrolides; C053853:dirithromycin; D004917:Erythromycin