Document Detail


Short- versus long-course antibacterial therapy for community-acquired pneumonia : a meta-analysis.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  18729535     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: The evidence for traditionally recommended 7- to 14-day duration of antibacterial therapy for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is not well established. OBJECTIVES: We endeavoured to assess the effectiveness and safety of shorter than traditionally recommended antibacterial therapy for CAP. METHODS: We performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing short- (< or = 7 days) versus long- (> or = 2 days difference) course therapy for CAP with the same antibacterial regimens, in the same daily dosages. RESULTS: Five RCTs involving adults (including outpatients and inpatients who did not require intensive care) and two RCTs involving children (aged 2-59 months, residing in developing countries) were included. All RCTs were double-blind and assessed patients with CAP of mild to moderate severity. No differences were found between short- (adults 3-7 days; children 3 days) and long- (adults 7-10 days; children 5 days) course regimens (adults - amoxicillin, cefuroxime, ceftriaxone, telithromycin and gemifloxacin; children - amoxicillin) regarding clinical success at end-of-therapy (six RCTs; 5107 patients [1095 adults, 4012 children]; fixed-effect model [FEM]; odds ratio [OR] = 0.89; 95% CI 0.74, 1.07), clinical success at late follow-up, microbiological success, relapses, mortality (seven RCTs; 5438 patients; FEM; OR = 0.57; 95% CI 0.23, 1.43), adverse events (five RCTs; 3214 patients; FEM; OR = 0. 90; 95% CI 0.72, 1.13) or withdrawals as a result of adverse events. No differences were found in subset analyses of adults or children, and of patients treated with no more than 5-day short-course regimens versus at least 7-day long-course regimens. CONCLUSION: No difference was found in the effectiveness and safety of short- versus long-course antimicrobial treatment of adult and paediatric patients with CAP of mild to moderate severity.
Authors:
George Dimopoulos; Dimitrios K Matthaiou; Drosos E Karageorgopoulos; Alexandros P Grammatikos; Zoe Athanassa; Matthew E Falagas
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Meta-Analysis    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Drugs     Volume:  68     ISSN:  0012-6667     ISO Abbreviation:  Drugs     Publication Date:  2008  
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2008-08-27     Completed Date:  2009-01-12     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7600076     Medline TA:  Drugs     Country:  New Zealand    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1841-54     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Alfa Institute of Biomedical Sciences (AIBS), Athens, GreeceDepartment of Critical Care, Attikon University Hospital, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Administration, Oral
Adult
Age Factors
Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage,  adverse effects,  therapeutic use*
Child, Preschool
Community-Acquired Infections / drug therapy*
Drug Administration Schedule
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Infant
Pneumonia / drug therapy*
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Time Factors
Treatment Outcome
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Anti-Bacterial Agents

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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