Clinical evaluation of ertapenem as empirical treatment of severe community-acquired pneumonia in elderly patients

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of ertapenem as empirical treatment of severe community-acquired pneumonia in elderly patients.MethodsA total of 84 elderly patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia were randomized to receive ertapenem 1 g once daily by intravenous infusion plus azithromycin 0.5 g/d for 6 to 9 days(experiment group,n=42);or ceftizoxime 3.0-4.5 g by Ⅳ infusion over 12 h plus azithromycin 0.5 g/d for 10 to 14 days(control group,n=42).The clinical efficacy and adverse drug reactions were documented before and after treatment.ResultsThe overall efficacy rate in the experiment group was significantly higher than that in the control group(85.4% vs 65.3%;P0.05).The fatality rate was similar between the two groups(7.32% vs 19.0%,P0.05).The experiment group showed faster onset of efficacy,shorter hospital stay(days) and lower cost of hospitalization than the control group.The adverse drug reactions were generally few and mild in both groups.ConclusionsThis analysis indicates that ertapenem plus azithromycin is effective and safe for treating severe community-acquired pneumonia in elderly patients.It can be used as appropriate initial empirical antibiotic treatment.