Clarithromycin for early anti-inflammatory responses in community-acquired pneumonia

A recent randomized controlled trial authored by ESA President Prof Evangelos J Giamarellos-Bourboulis MD, PhD et al was published in Lancet Respiratory Medicine. In the study, 267 patients with community-acquired pneumonia were randomized to treatment either with clarithromycin and standard-of-care antibiotics or placebo and standard-of-care antibiotics. Clarithromycin treatment provided enhanced anti-inflammatory benefit the first 72 hours after randomization. Benefit from clarithromycin treatment was further expanded to reduction of risk of progression to organ dysfunction and secondary sepsis. Clinical benefit was associated with reversal of the complex immune dysregulation of community-acquired pneumonia. 

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