The Impact of Steroids Given with Macrolide Therapy on ExperimentalMycoplasma pneumoniaeRespiratory Infection

• DOI: 10.1086/591915
• Publication Date: 2008-08-21T19:19:06Z
• Authors: C. Tagliabue; C. M. Salvatore; C. Techasaensiri; A. Mejias; J. P. Torres; K. Katz; A. M. Gomez; S. Esposito; N. Principi; R. D. Hardy
• Keywords: Macrolide Antibiotics

Systemic steroids have been advocated in addition to antimicrobial therapy for severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia. We evaluated the efficacy of clarithromycin, dexamethasone, and combination M. respiratory infection.Mice infected with were treated combined clarithromycin/dexamethasone, or placebo daily; mice at baseline after 1, 3, 6 days therapy. Outcome variables included culture, lung histopathologic score (HPS), bronchoalveolar lavage cytokine, chemokine, growth factor concentrations.Clarithromycin monotherapy resulted greatest reductions concentrations. After 3 treatment, significantly reduced HPS compared placebo, dexamethasone alone, whereas, therapy, clarithromycin alone placebo. Concentrations interleukin (IL)-12 p40, RANTES, macrophage chemotactic protein-1, cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant lower and/or placebo; a greater reduction than IL-12 p40 RANTES.Although had effect on reducing concentrations pneumoniae, decreasing levels cytokines chemokines as well pulmonary histologic inflammation.