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Evidence summaries

Quinolones for Treatment of Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia

Quinolones are at least as effective as other antibiotics for hospital-acquired pneumonia. Level of evidence: "A"

A systematic review 1 including 5 studies with a total of 1,186 subjects was abstracted in DARE. There was no statistically significant difference between quinolone (ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin) and the comparator (imipenem-cilistatin and ceftazadime) in clinical cure; OR 1.12 (95% CI: 0.80 to 1.55) in favour of quinolones. There was no statistically significant difference between quinolone and the comparator groups in mortality; OR 0.87 (95% CI: 0.57 to 1.37) in favour of quinolones. The difference between quinolone and the comparator groups for microbiologic eradication approached statistical significance in favour of quinolones; OR 1.41 (95% CI: 1.00 to 2.00).

Comment:All but one of the RCTs were completed before 1999.

Primary/Secondary Keywords