Comparative efficacy of oral and intravenous macrolide antibiotics in treating pediatric pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae

doi:10.5246/jcps.2024.12.084

Abstract

Abstract:

To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of oral versus intravenous macrolide antibacterials in managing pediatric pneumonia attributable to Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP), we conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical data from 100 pediatric patients treated in our pediatric outpatient and inpatient departments between January 2020 and August 2023. These patients were divided into two groups based on the method of antibiotic administration: one oral group (n = 50) and one intravenous group (n = 50). The oral group received either azithromycin or clarithromycin, while the intravenous group received azithromycin or roxithromycin, both at a dosage of 10 mg/kg/d, for a continuous treatment duration of 3−7 d. We compared various clinical parameters, including clinical features, body temperature, white blood cell count, C-reactive protein levels, improvement in chest radiography, recovery time, overall efficacy rate, and incidence of adverse reactions before and after treatment in both groups. Our results revealed no statistically significant differences in clinical features, laboratory test results, or chest radiographic manifestations between the two groups before treatment (P > 0.05). Following treatment, significant reductions in body temperature, white blood cell count, and C-reactive protein levels were observed in both groups. Additionally, chest radiographic improvement was noted in 100% of cases, with shortened recovery times and an overall efficacy rate of 100%, demonstrating no significant difference between the groups (P > 0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions was 6% in the oral group and 8% in the intravenous group, primarily consisting of mild gastrointestinal reactions. No severe adverse reactions were reported, and the difference in incidence between the groups was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Our study underscored the comparable clinical efficacy and safety of oral and intravenous macrolide antibiotics in treating pediatric pneumonia caused by MP. Considering its convenience and cost-effectiveness, oral administration emerged as a favorable treatment option.

Key words: Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Pneumonia, Pediatrics, Macrolides, Antibacterial

Supporting:

Lirong Qian, Lina Gao. Comparative efficacy of oral and intravenous macrolide antibiotics in treating pediatric pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae[J]. Journal of Chinese Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2024, 33(12): 1146-1152.

Figures/Tables 6

Table 1. Baseline characteristics, laboratory tests, and chest imaging findings of two groups of pediatric patients.

Table 2. Changes in body temperature in two groups of children.

Table 3. Laboratory test results of two groups of pediatric patients.

Table 4. Improvement of chest imaging in two groups of children.

Table 5. Recovery time and total effective rate of two groups of pediatric patients.

Table 6. Adverse reactions in two groups of children.

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