Short-Course Azithromycin for Lower Respiratory Tract Infection in Adults: Is 3 Days Enough?

The objective of this study is to review the body of evidence on the efficacy and safety of azithromycin in CAP treatment given as a regimen of 500 mg daily for 3 days. An English-language literature search was completed through PubMed (1980–2019). Full-text studies conducted in humans to compare a 5-day azithromycin course with a 3-day azithromycin course or azithromycin with other antibiotics for CAP treatment were included. Although the standard recommended CAP treatment regimen of azithromycin is 1500 mg in a total dose divided for 5 days, the efficacy of 1500 mg in a total dose divided for 3 days has been shown to be as effective as the 5-day course and comparable to longer durations of clarithromycin or amoxicillin/clavulanate for CAP treatment in an outpatient setting. Meanwhile, the evidence is less supportive of the use of 3-day azithromycin in patients who require hospitalization. The risk of cardiac death is low and not greater than the risk with other antibiotics.
Source: Infectious Diseases in Clinical Practice - Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: Review Articles Source Type: research