Choosing the right combination therapy in severe community-acquired pneumonia.
Recent studies have suggested that combination antibiotic therapy is preferable to monotherapy for severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). In this issue Mortensen and colleagues present retrospective data suggesting that combination therapy with a cephalosporin and a fluoroquinolone is inferior to combination therapy with a cephalosporin and a macrolide. Several mechanisms exist by which quinolones could be inferior to macrolides in combination therapy, so if these findings are confirmed by other groups they have significant implications for physicians treating patients with severe CAP.
Waterer
Grant W
GW
School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, MRF Building, Royal Perth Hospital, GPO Box X2213, Perth 6847, Australia. waterer@cyllene.uwa.edu.au
Rello
Jordi
J
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents