| A Prospective Study for Comparing the Effects of Macrolide and Second-generation Cephalosporin on the Treatment of Pneumonia among Combat Policemen. |
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Jae Il Lee, Byeong Yoon Yang, Chang Ki Moon, Jae Hyeok Jeong, Jong Su Kim, Jung Min Lee, Seok Jin Ahn, Jun Oh Jung, Sang Joon Park, Yun Kwon Kim, So Yon Kim, Young Jung Kim, Min Koo Cho, Gwon Jun Lee, Gyeong In Lee |
1Departments of Internal Medicine National Police Hospital, Seoul, Korea. psjoon@medigate.net
2Departments of Laboratory Medicine National Police Hospital, Seoul, Korea. |
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| 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. |
| Key Words:
Pneumonia, Macrolides, Cephalosporins, Mycoplasma |
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