Treatment of legionellosis including a single intravenous dose of 1.5 g azithromycin: 18-year experience at a tertiary care hospital.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

Due to recent safety concerns regarding fluoroquinolones and the potential medical and economic benefits, we investigated the efficacy of a single intravenous dose of 1.5 g azithromycin for the treatment of pulmonary legionellosis.

METHODS:

Using a nationwide legionellosis registry for pre-selection, 74 patients admitted from 2000-2018 to a tertiary care hospital owing to pneumonia caused by Legionella pneumophila were retrospectively included in this study.

RESULTS:

Conventional treatment regimens consisting of fluoroquinolones (n = 20), macrolides (n = 30) or combinations of both (n = 24) and a single intravenous dose of azithromycin (n = 12) have been demonstrated to be equally effective. Single-dose azithromycin treatment was well tolerated and resulted in a shorter hospital stay (P = 0.0464) and shorter antibiotic treatment duration (P = 0.0004) allowing earlier discharge.

CONCLUSION:

A single intravenous dose of azithromycin might be a valuable treatment alternative for patients with legionellosis.

• Authors: Matthias Karer, Teresa Haider, Manuel Kussmann, Markus Obermüller, Claas Tiehen, Heinz Burgmann, Heimo Lagler, Ludwig Traby
• Journal: International journal of antimicrobial agents (Int J Antimicrob Agents) Vol. 59 Issue 1 Pg. 106481 (Jan 2022) ISSN: 1872-7913 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 34801678 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd and International Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Fluoroquinolones
• Azithromycin

Topics

• Administration, Intravenous
• Adult
• Aged
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (therapeutic use)
• Austria
• Azithromycin (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Fluoroquinolones (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Legionella pneumophila (drug effects)
• Legionellosis (drug therapy)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Retrospective Studies
• Tertiary Care Centers (statistics & numerical data)
• Treatment Outcome