Comparision of Efficacy and Safety of Moxifloxacin Monotherapy Versus Ceftriaxone Plus Clarithromycin in Hospitalized Adult Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) Patients With Risk Factors

Aim: In this study, the efficacy and safety of moxifloxacin monotherapy versus ceftriaxone plus clarithromycin (comparator) was compared in hospitalized adult community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) (group IIIb) patients with risk factors. Material and Methods: Patients with CAP hospitalized in KTU School of Medicine, Pulmonology Clinic between March 2007 and September were included in the study. Patients were consecutively treated using either primary (ceftriaxone plus clarithromycin IV) or secondary (moxifloxacin IV) therapeutic options according to the Guidelines of Turkish Thoracic Society. For the sequential therapy, oral cefuroxime axetil plus clarithromycin and oral moxifloxacin were used respectively. Clinical and laboratory data were recorded in first, 3rd, 5th and 14th days. Results: During study period, 23 men and 13 women (total 36 patients) were included in the study. Risk factors were a comorbid disease (25 pts) and advanced age (>65 years) (21 pts). Pleural effusion (13 pts) and respiratory failure (12 pts) were the most commonly seen severity factors. At the end of treatment (14th day) period, clinical cure was obtained in 17 patients in the first and 18 patents in the second treatment groups (P=0.500). Radiographic resolution rates were not statistically different between groups and 2 patients had incomplete resolution at the end of treatment period (P=0.243). Because of persistence of fever at 5th day of treatment, treatment failure was described in one patient in the first group. Total treatment duration, hospitalization and loss of work-days were not different between groups. Conculation: In conclusion, our study has showed that moxifloxacin has similar clinical efficacy and safety profile with ceftriaxone plus clarithromycin in hospitalized community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) (group IIIb) patients with risk factors.