title: Azithromycin for treatment of community acquired pneumonia caused by Legionella pneumophila: a retrospective study.
abstract: A clinical, retrospective and non-comparative study was undertaken to assess the clinical efficacy and tolerability of azithromycin in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia caused by Legionella pneumophila. A total of 16 patients with a serologically confirmed diagnosis of Legionnaires' diseases were included. Azithromycin was administered orally at a total dose of 1.5 g for either 3 or 5 days. All patients were no side-effects requiring discontinuation of the treatment. Further increase of abnormal baseline liver function was recorded in 2 patients and in 1 patient mild, transient eosinophilia. Equal clinical efficacy and tolerability were observed with the 3- and 5-day dosage regimen. These results indicate that azithromycin given at a standard dose of 1.5 g is effective and well tolerated in the treatment of Legionnaires' disease.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Infectious Diseases, Dr Fran Mihaljević, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kuzman
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Soldo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schönwald
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Culig
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007877:Legionnaires' Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017963:Azithromycin