• About
  • Masthead
  • License Content
  • Advertise
  • Submit Press Release
  • RSS/Email List
  • 2MM Podcast
  • Write for us
  • Contact Us
2 Minute Medicine
No Result
View All Result

No products in the cart.

SUBSCRIBE
  • Specialties
    • All Specialties, All Recent Reports
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Pharma
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • AI Roundup
  • Pharma
  • The Scan+
  • Classics™+
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Podcasts
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • Account
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
2 Minute Medicine
  • Specialties
    • All Specialties, All Recent Reports
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Pharma
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • AI Roundup
  • Pharma
  • The Scan+
  • Classics™+
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Podcasts
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • Account
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
SUBSCRIBE
2 Minute Medicine
Subscribe
Home All Specialties Pulmonology

3 days of β-lactam therapy is non-inferior to 8 days of therapy among patients with community-acquired pneumonia

byNeel MistryandTeddy Guo
June 25, 2021
in Pulmonology
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

1. Cure at 15 days occurred in 77% of patients in the placebo (3-day therapy) group compared to 68% of patients in the β-lactam (8-day therapy) group.

2. Incidence of adverse events was similar between both groups (14% placebo vs. 19% β-lactam). 

Evidence Rating Level: 1 (Excellent)

Study Rundown: Lower respiratory tract infections are a common indication for antibiotic treatment in community and hospital settings. In the US, treatment of community-acquired pneumonia requires at least 5 days of treatment whereas European guidelines recommend at least 8 days. Other studies have shown that fewer than 5 days could be sufficient. A shorter course could potentially reduce bacterial resistance, likelihood of adverse events, and result in many other benefits. This randomized controlled trial aimed to assess noninferiority between a 3- and 8-day course of β-lactam therapy among patients with community-acquired pneumonia who were clinically stable after 3 days of treatment. The primary outcome was cure at 15 days after start of antibiotic treatment, while key secondary outcomes were cure at day 30, all-cause mortality at day 30, and frequency and severity of adverse events. According to study results, 3-day β-lactam treatment was noninferior to the 8-day course with respect to the primary outcome of cure at 15 days. Additionally, the incidence of adverse events was similar in both groups. This study was limited by a short follow-up of 30 days. It would be interesting to assess the risk of pneumonia relapse in patients who were on β-lactam therapy for 3 days versus 8 days.

Click to read the study in The Lancet

Relevant Reading: Oral β-Lactam Antibiotics vs Fluoroquinolones or Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole for Definitive Treatment of Enterobacterales Bacteremia From a Urine Source

RELATED REPORTS

Oral gepotidacin is non-inferior to standard therapy for uncomplicated urogenital gonorrhea

Risk of bloodstream infections with indwelling peripheral catheters increase after 3 days

#VisualAbstract Seven Days of Antibiotic Treatment Non-inferior to 14 Days for Bloodstream Infections

In-depth [randomized controlled trial]: Between Dec 19, 2013, and Feb 1, 2018, 706 patients were assessed for eligibility from 16 centers in France. Included patients were ≥ 18 years old, with moderately severe community-acquired pneumonia, treated with β-lactam monotherapy, and had a clinical response after 72 h of treatment. Patients with severe pneumonia, known immunosuppression, and other infection were excluded. Altogether, 303 patients (152 in the placebo group and 151 in the β-lactam group) were included in the intention-to-treat (ITT) population. The median patient age was 73.0 years (interquartile range [IQR] 57.0-84.0) and 57% were male.

Primary outcome of cure at day 15 was noninferior between the placebo (3-day therapy) group (117 of 152, 77%) and the β-lactam (8-day therapy) group (102 of 151, 68%, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.38 to 20.04). This was also true for the per-protocol analysis. Additionally, in the ITT analysis, the number of patients who had been cured by day 30 was similar in the placebo group (n=109, 72%) and the β-lactam group (n=151, 72%, 95% CI -11.31 to 9.98). Furthermore, no difference was seen in the proportion of patients reporting ≥ 1 adverse event (14% for placebo vs. 19% for β-lactam), with the most common event being digestive disorders (11% for placebo vs. 19% for β-lactam). By day 30, 2% (n=3) patients had died in the placebo group (due to bacteremia from S. aureus, cardiogenic shock after acute pulmonary edema, and heart failure) and 1% (n=2) in the β-lactam group (due to pneumonia relapse and acute pulmonary edema). Overall, findings from this study suggest that discontinuation of β-lactam therapy after 3 days was non-inferior to 8 days of therapy among stable hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

Image: PD

©2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. All rights reserved. No works may be reproduced without expressed written consent from 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. Inquire about licensing here. No article should be construed as medical advice and is not intended as such by the authors or by 2 Minute Medicine, Inc.

Tags: antibioticantibioticsbeta-lactamcommunity acquired pneumonialower respiratory tract infectionspneumoniarespiratory infectionsβ-lactam antibiotics
Previous Post

Spinal cord stimulation shows considerable improvement in pain and quality of life for patients with refractory diabetic neuropathy

Next Post

#VisualAbstract: Azithromycin does not improve clinical outcomes in high-risk patients with suspected COVID-19 in the community setting

RelatedReports

Nearly Half of All Pediatric Buprenorphine Exposures Result in Hospitalization
Infectious Disease

Oral gepotidacin is non-inferior to standard therapy for uncomplicated urogenital gonorrhea

May 28, 2025
Quick Take: Gentamicin compared with ceftriaxone for the treatment of gonorrhoea (G-ToG)
Hematology

Risk of bloodstream infections with indwelling peripheral catheters increase after 3 days

April 28, 2025
#VisualAbstract Seven Days of Antibiotic Treatment Non-inferior to 14 Days for Bloodstream Infections
StudyGraphics

#VisualAbstract Seven Days of Antibiotic Treatment Non-inferior to 14 Days for Bloodstream Infections

March 26, 2025
The 2 Minute Medicine Podcast Episode 15
2MM Podcast

The 2 Minute Medicine Podcast Episode 54

March 21, 2025
Next Post
#VisualAbstract: Azithromycin does not improve clinical outcomes in high-risk patients with suspected COVID-19 in the community setting

#VisualAbstract: Azithromycin does not improve clinical outcomes in high-risk patients with suspected COVID-19 in the community setting

Lessons from real-world implementation of lung cancer screening

Tislelizumab plus chemotherapy vs chemotherapy alone as treatment for advanced squamous NSCLC

Rilonacept may lower pericarditis recurrence in patients with relapsing pericarditis

Prematurity linked to increased risk of heart failure in adulthood

2 Minute Medicine® is an award winning, physician-run, expert medical media company. Our content is curated, written and edited by practicing health professionals who have clinical and scientific expertise in their field of reporting. Our editorial management team is comprised of highly-trained MD physicians. Join numerous brands, companies, and hospitals who trust our licensed content.

Recent Reports

  • Seventh cervical nerve neurotomy may augment speech therapy in patients with chronic aphasia post-stroke
  • Time-restricted eating does not confer changes in sleep, mood, or quality of life
  • Commonly cited medication triggers may not increase risk of microscopic colitis among older adults
License Content
Terms of Use | Disclaimer
Cookie Policy
Privacy Statement (EU)
Disclaimer

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.

  • Specialties
    • All Specialties, All Recent Reports
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Pharma
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • AI Roundup
  • Pharma
  • The Scan
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Podcasts
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • Account
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
No Result
View All Result

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.