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Evidence summaries

Intravenous Vs Oral Antibiotics for Hospitalized Patients with Non-Severe Community Acquired Pneumonia

Peroral antibiotics are as effective as intravenous antibiotics for hospitalized patients with non-severe community-acquired pneumonia. Level of evidence: "A"

A topic in Clinical Evidence 1 summarizes the results of one systematic review (search date 2003, 7 RCTs, 1366 people). There was no significant difference between oral and intravenous antibiotics in clinical success or mortality (clinical success: 261/290 (90%) with oral vs 220/255 (86%) i.v., RR 1.07, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.16. Mortality: 8/292 (3%) vs 14/299 (5%) i.v., RR 0.61, 95% CI 0.26 to 1.4).

    References

    • Loeb M. What are the effects of treatments in people admitted to hospital. Community acquired pneumonia. Clinical Evidence 2005;13:1867-1875.

Primary/Secondary Keywords