Post by Colleen-NC on Apr 15, 2008 8:26:32 GMT -5
Shorter Course for antibiotics
« Thread Started on Mar 21, 2008, 4:50pm »
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Thought there might be some of you that would be interested.
Johns Hopkins Health Alerts:
Lung Disorders
Why a Shorter Course of Antibiotics for Pneumonia Makes Sense
A recent study shows that a short three-day course of antibiotics effectively treats pneumonia. Read what the experts say ...
www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com | Johns Hopkins Health
Why a Shorter Course of Antibiotics for Pneumonia Makes Sense
A recent study shows that a short three-day course of antibiotics effectively treats pneumonia.
Pneumonia is an infection of the air sacs and surrounding lung tissue. Pneumonia is the sixth leading cause of death overall and the primary cause of death from infectious disease in the United States, claiming the lives of about 65,000 Americans each year. Most people who die of pneumonia are over the age of 65, and often they have had underlying disorders that increased their susceptibility to infection. Others at high risk for pneumonia include people with lung cancer or a suppressed immune system (for example, people with HIV or those who take immunosuppressive medications).
If you should come down with pneumonia, don’t be surprised if your doctor gives you very few antibiotic pills. A new study reported in the British Medical Journal (Volume 332, page 1355) finds that, for moderate to severe pneumonia caught outside the hospital, three days of antibiotics is as effective as eight days.
Because there has been no evidence that a shorter course of antibiotic treatment is effective, it has been accepted practice to continue treatment for days after pneumonia symptoms have improved. To test the question, the researchers studied 119 hospitalized adults with mild to moderately severe community-acquired pneumonia who had improved substantially after three days' treatment with intravenous antibiotics. They were assigned at random to continue taking an antibiotic (oral amoxicillin) three times a day for five days or to take a placebo on the same schedule.
Now they know: The resolution of symptoms, x-ray results, and length of hospital stay were similar in the two groups. A shorter course of treatment would reduce antibiotic use, they pointed out, which would reduce antibiotic resistance among infectious microbes. Whenever you take an antibiotic, however, be sure that you finish all of the pills prescribed.
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There are many exciting developments in the field of respiratory disorders, and there's no better way to access this information than by reading the 2008 Lung Disorders White Paper.
This 76-page report provides the latest research on the prevention and treatment of common lung diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sleep apnea, interstitial lung disease, lung cancer, bronchitis, and pneumonia. And it's written by Peter B. Terry, M.D., M.A., professor of medicine in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care at Johns Hopkins, so you know the information is accurate and up-to-date.
Available as an instant PDF download or in a handsome paper edition for less than $20, the 2008 Lung Disorders White Paper is an excellent resource that can help you or a loved one manage your condition. For more information, or to order, go to:
2008 Lung Disorders White Paper
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MarthaK
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Re: Shorter Course for antibiotics
« Reply #1 on Mar 21, 2008, 5:15pm »
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That very well may be the way to go for most people. I think high risk people, such as people with COPD and the elderly, will continue to be treated with a longer course. I acquired pneumonia after being hospitalized. I wasn't even particularly sick except for continuing to run fever and it took two rounds of anti's to kill it--one round of zpak and one of Levaquin. As I've discussed elsewhere, my mother had pneumonia three times in quick succession before she died. She was treated with intravenous anti's - including Levaquin.
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toby
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Re: Shorter Course for antibiotics
« Reply #2 on Mar 21, 2008, 6:43pm »
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I tend to agree with you. The last chest infection I had, I had to take bioxin and Levaquin which upset my stomach. I'm not sure why my GP didn't put me on the zpak. Normally she did. My mother developed sepsis when she was hospitalized for pneumonia. She only lasted one week in the hospital before she died. I know she didn't have intravenous antibiotics.
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canyon711
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Re: Shorter Course for antibiotics
« Reply #3 on Mar 21, 2008, 11:11pm »
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Toby, he must have felt it was too bad for the Zpak. That is not as strong as the other two. Those can really play havoc with your stomach but so does Zpak with me. Biaxin does a number of me. Usually they do give IV antibiotics in the hospital over pills though so that is a surprise but there must have been some reason. So sorry about you Mom.
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« Thread Started on Mar 21, 2008, 4:50pm »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thought there might be some of you that would be interested.
Johns Hopkins Health Alerts:
Lung Disorders
Why a Shorter Course of Antibiotics for Pneumonia Makes Sense
A recent study shows that a short three-day course of antibiotics effectively treats pneumonia. Read what the experts say ...
www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com | Johns Hopkins Health
Why a Shorter Course of Antibiotics for Pneumonia Makes Sense
A recent study shows that a short three-day course of antibiotics effectively treats pneumonia.
Pneumonia is an infection of the air sacs and surrounding lung tissue. Pneumonia is the sixth leading cause of death overall and the primary cause of death from infectious disease in the United States, claiming the lives of about 65,000 Americans each year. Most people who die of pneumonia are over the age of 65, and often they have had underlying disorders that increased their susceptibility to infection. Others at high risk for pneumonia include people with lung cancer or a suppressed immune system (for example, people with HIV or those who take immunosuppressive medications).
If you should come down with pneumonia, don’t be surprised if your doctor gives you very few antibiotic pills. A new study reported in the British Medical Journal (Volume 332, page 1355) finds that, for moderate to severe pneumonia caught outside the hospital, three days of antibiotics is as effective as eight days.
Because there has been no evidence that a shorter course of antibiotic treatment is effective, it has been accepted practice to continue treatment for days after pneumonia symptoms have improved. To test the question, the researchers studied 119 hospitalized adults with mild to moderately severe community-acquired pneumonia who had improved substantially after three days' treatment with intravenous antibiotics. They were assigned at random to continue taking an antibiotic (oral amoxicillin) three times a day for five days or to take a placebo on the same schedule.
Now they know: The resolution of symptoms, x-ray results, and length of hospital stay were similar in the two groups. A shorter course of treatment would reduce antibiotic use, they pointed out, which would reduce antibiotic resistance among infectious microbes. Whenever you take an antibiotic, however, be sure that you finish all of the pills prescribed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are many exciting developments in the field of respiratory disorders, and there's no better way to access this information than by reading the 2008 Lung Disorders White Paper.
This 76-page report provides the latest research on the prevention and treatment of common lung diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sleep apnea, interstitial lung disease, lung cancer, bronchitis, and pneumonia. And it's written by Peter B. Terry, M.D., M.A., professor of medicine in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care at Johns Hopkins, so you know the information is accurate and up-to-date.
Available as an instant PDF download or in a handsome paper edition for less than $20, the 2008 Lung Disorders White Paper is an excellent resource that can help you or a loved one manage your condition. For more information, or to order, go to:
2008 Lung Disorders White Paper
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MarthaK
Senior Member
member is online
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 515
Re: Shorter Course for antibiotics
« Reply #1 on Mar 21, 2008, 5:15pm »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That very well may be the way to go for most people. I think high risk people, such as people with COPD and the elderly, will continue to be treated with a longer course. I acquired pneumonia after being hospitalized. I wasn't even particularly sick except for continuing to run fever and it took two rounds of anti's to kill it--one round of zpak and one of Levaquin. As I've discussed elsewhere, my mother had pneumonia three times in quick succession before she died. She was treated with intravenous anti's - including Levaquin.
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toby
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member is offline
Joined: Jul 2007
Gender: Female
Posts: 970
Location: Orchard Park, NY
Re: Shorter Course for antibiotics
« Reply #2 on Mar 21, 2008, 6:43pm »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I tend to agree with you. The last chest infection I had, I had to take bioxin and Levaquin which upset my stomach. I'm not sure why my GP didn't put me on the zpak. Normally she did. My mother developed sepsis when she was hospitalized for pneumonia. She only lasted one week in the hospital before she died. I know she didn't have intravenous antibiotics.
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canyon711
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member is offline
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 313
Re: Shorter Course for antibiotics
« Reply #3 on Mar 21, 2008, 11:11pm »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Toby, he must have felt it was too bad for the Zpak. That is not as strong as the other two. Those can really play havoc with your stomach but so does Zpak with me. Biaxin does a number of me. Usually they do give IV antibiotics in the hospital over pills though so that is a surprise but there must have been some reason. So sorry about you Mom.
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