Tuberc Respir Dis.  2005 Mar;58(3):257-266. 10.4046/trd.2005.58.3.257.

A Prospective Study for Comparing the Effects of Macrolide and Second-generation Cephalosporin on the Treatment of Pneumonia among Combat Policemen

• Lee JI
• Yang BY
• Moon CK
• Jeong JH
• Kim JS
• Lee JM
• Ahn SJ
• Jung JO
• Park SJ
• Kim YK
• Kim SY
• Kim YJ
• Cho MK
• Lee GJ
• Lee GI

• KMID: 2009834
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2005.58.3.257

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The study of pneumonia among young men living in a group is rare. prospective study was conducted to determine the etiology, and compare the effects of macrolide and second-generation cephalosporin on the treatment of pneumonia among combat policemen.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
From January 2003 to April 2004, Fifty-two patients with pneumonia were treated with either azithromycin(n=25) or cefuroxime(n=27). In order to determine the cause of the pneumonia, culture studies and serologic tests for antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae were carried out. During the two weeks of medication, the Chest X-rays, blood tests and culture studies(if necessary) were followed weekly. A serologic study was followed at the end of the second week.
RESULTS
The main pathogens for pneumonia among combat policemen were Mycoplasma pneumoniae(50.0%), Chlamydia pneumoniae(10.8%), and Streptococcus pneumoniae(3.8%). The treatment was successful in most cases(51/52 cases, 98.1%). The effects of azithromycin and cefuroxime were similar (96.0% vs 100%, p>5). In one patient who had taken azithromycin, the clinical and radiological findings did not improved until intravenous second generation ce?phalosporin had been infused.
CONCLUSION
Atypical pathogens were the main causes of the pneumonia in the combat policemen, and the effects of macrolide and second generation cephalosporin for pneumonia were similar. However, further studies will be needed to determine if single therapy with macrolide is possible.

Keyword

Pneumonia; Macrolides; Cephalosporins; Mycoplasma

MeSH Terms

Antibodies
Azithromycin
Cefuroxime
Cephalosporins
Chlamydia
Chlamydophila pneumoniae
Hematologic Tests
Humans
Macrolides
Male
Mycoplasma
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Pneumonia*
Pneumonia, Mycoplasma
Prospective Studies*
Serologic Tests
Streptococcus
Thorax
Antibodies
Azithromycin
Cefuroxime
Cephalosporins
Macrolides