Treatment and course of community-acquired pneumonia caused by atypical pathogens

OBJECTIVE: To study the course of disease and outcomes in a group of patients with community-acquired pneumonia caused by atypical pathogens (Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Legionella species, Coxiella burnetti, and Chlamydophila pneumoniae) according to the empiric treatment received. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Of a total of 390 patients admitted to our hospital with pneumonia between January 1996 and February 2001, the causative microorganism was an atypical pathogen in 89 cases. Patients were divided retrospectively into 2 groups according to the empiric treatment they received: group A, who had received an antibiotic regime (quinolones or macrolides) that provided coverage for atypical pathogens; and group B, who had received treatment that did not provide such coverage. Clinical course was assessed in terms of the differences between the 2 groups in length of hospital stay, radiographic resolution, readmission at 30 days after discharge, and mortality. RESULTS: A total of 89 patients with pneumonia caused by atypical pathogens (39 in group A and 50 in group B) were studied. No significant between-group differences in the variables were found. CONCLUSIONS: In this group of patients hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia, antibiotic regimens providing coverage for atypical pathogens did not improve either clinical or radiographic evolution.