Therapeutic effect of clarithromycin for respiratory-tract infections in children caused by Chlamydia pneumoniae

• Published in: International journal of antimicrobial agents 2000, Vol.13 (3), p.219-222
• Main Authors: Numazaki, Kei, Sakamoto, Yoshinori, Umetsu, Masao, Agatsuma, Yoshitaka, Yamanaka, Tatsuru, Kogasaka, Ryoich, Hiraki, Masahisa, Kuniya, Yoshinori, Miua, Junichi, Ukae, Susumu, Ueda, Daisuke, Sato, Toshiya, Chiba, Shunzo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bronchitis; Chlamydia pneumoniae; Clarithromycin; Pneumonia
• ISSN: 0924-8579; 1872-7913
• DOI: 10.1016/S0924-8579(99)00116-8

Children infected with Chlamydia pneumoniae sometimes experience lower respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis. Although numerous anti-microbial compounds have been reported to be active against the organism, most of them have not been in a clinical trial in infants and children with C. pneumoniae infection. Clarithromycin has been shown to express anti-chlamydial effects in vitro. In this study, we evaluated the clinical anti- C. pneumoniae properties of clarithromycin in children with mainly lower respiratory tract infection. We administered clarithromycin orally to 21 infants and children at a dose of 10–15 mg/kg/day divided into two or three doses for 4–21 days. Clinical symptoms, roentgenographic and laboratory abnormal findings improved. The overall clinical efficacy rate was 85.7% (18 of 21 cases). Administration of clarithromycin was considered to be a suitable treatment for improving lower respiratory infections in infants and children caused by C. pneumoniae.