HUSAIN S, EVANS A, DURAIRAJ L, DAMTE MC, SADOWSKI L, WANG Y; Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (41st : 2001 : Chicago, Ill.).

Abstr Intersci Conf Antimicrob Agents Chemother Intersci Conf Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2001 Dec 16-19; 41: abstract no. L-905.

Univ of Pttsburgh Med Ctr, Pittsburgh, PA

BACKGROUND: The value of azithromycin for treating acute bronchitis is unknown, even though it is a commonly prescribed treatment. We conducted the study to determine the efficacy of azithromycin for treating acute bronchitis. METHODS: Randomized, double-blind, controlled trial in an adult walk-in clinic at a large urban public hospital of 220 adults diagnosed with acute bronchitis without evidence of underlying lung disease from Dec 99-March 2000. Identical capsules of either azithromycin 250 mg or Vitamin C 250 mg; two capsules on day 1, then one daily for 4 additional days. All subjects were given liquid dextromethorphan and an albuterol metered dose inhaler with an aerochamber. Primary endpoints were return to usual daily activities and improvement in health-related quality of life on Day 3 and Day 7. Secondary outcomes were adverse events and changes within the specific domains of health-related quality of life. RESULTS: On Day 7, 89% (86 of 97 patients) of the Azithromycin group and 89% (82 of 92 patients) of the Vitamin C group had returned to their usual activities (P > 0.9), and the adjusted difference in health related quality of life was nearly identical (difference: 0.03; 95% CI: -0.20 to 0.26; P = 0.8). On Day 3, the Azithromycin group had fewer activity limitations (P = 0.05) and less trouble from cough (P = 0.04), but these differences were small and short-lived. There were no differences in the frequency of adverse effects; 3 patients in the Vitamin C group discontinued the study medicine because of perceived adverse effects and none in the Azithromycin group. The majority of patients (81%) reported benefit from the albuterol inhaler. CONCLUSIONS: Azithromycin is no better than low-dose Vitamin C for acute bronchitis but is a thousand times more expensive. Azithromycin should not be prescribed for acute bronchitis.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acute Disease
• Adult
• Albuterol
• Azithromycin
• Blindness
• Bronchitis
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Cough
• Double-Blind Method
• Humans
• Nebulizers and Vaporizers
• Treatment Outcome

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0030961

UI: 102270598

From Meeting Abstracts