A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 13 studies with a total of 2 197 subjects. 11 trials investigated treatment regimens and two investigated prophylaxis regimens. The quality of the trials was variable.
Short-term antibiotics (azithromycin for three to five days, clarithromycin for seven days, or erythromycin estolate for seven days) were equally effective with long-term antibiotic treatment (erythromycin estolate or erythromycin for 14 days) in the microbiological eradication of Bordetella pertussis (B. pertussis) from the nasopharynx. The RR was 1.01 (95% CI 0.98 to 1.04). Side effects were fewer with short-term treatment (RR 0.66; 95% CI 0.52 to 0.83). There were no differences in clinical improvement or microbiological relapse between short and long-term treatment regimens. Contact prophylaxis (of contacts older than six months of age) with antibiotics did not significantly improve clinical symptoms or the number of cases that developed culture positive B. pertussis.
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