Penicillin as empirical therapy for patients hospitalised with community acquired pneumonia at a Danish hospital.
BACKGROUND
We report on the outcome of a study of patients hospitalised with community acquired pneumonia (HCAP) at a Danish university hospital.


METHODS
In a retrospective study of 243 consecutive patients with radiographically verified HCAP, data on clinical and laboratory findings and outcome parameters were collected. Three groups were established according to the initial choice of antibiotic(s): penicillin only (n = 160); non-allergic patients starting broader spectrum therapy (n = 54); and patients with suspected penicillin allergy (n = 29).


RESULTS
The overall mortality within three months was 12% and the readmission rate within three months was 20%. The three treatment groups were comparable with respect to most demographic and clinical criteria at baseline. No significant differences in outcome between the groups were found: the mortality was 12.5%, 13.0%, and 10.3%, respectively, p = 0.94, and the readmission rate 20.3%, 24.0%, and 14.8%, respectively; p = 0.63.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients treated for community-acquired pneumonia at a Danish university hospital had clinical outcomes fully at height with findings from other countries, and half of the patients were successfully treated with penicillin monotherapy. No differences in clinical outcomes were documented between patients treated empirically with broad-spectrum therapy and penicillin monotherapy. Therefore, penicillin seems to be a reasonable first choice for initial therapy of HCAP in Denmark as in other regions with similar patterns of microbial pathogens and resistance.
Kirk
O
O
Department of Infectious Diseases, Department of Clinical Microbiology, and Clinic of Respiratory Medicine, H:S Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen. oki@cphiv.dk
Glenthøj
J
J
Dragsted
U B
UB
Helweg-Larsen
J
J
Aru
T M
TM
Benfield
T L
TL
Jensen
K
K
Vestbo
J
J
Lundgren
J D
JD
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D010406:Penicillins