Assessment of the Period for Administration of Antibiotics for Primary Atypical Pneumonia
We assessed adequate period for administration of antibiotics for primary atypical pneumonia (PAP). The subjects were patients with PAP admitted to our hospital from January, 1986 to December, 1988. For treatment, 100 mg of minocycline (MINO) was dissolved into 100 ml of solution and infused intravenously for 1 hour twice a day. The patients were divided into two treatment periods: a 6 day-administration group (Group A), and a 9 day-administration group (Group B). Group A: 23 cases (which included 8 cases of mycoplasmal pneumonia) and Group B: 22 cases (which included 10 cases of mycoplasmal pneumonia). A comparative assessment was made between Groups A and B regarding body temperature, WBC, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, CRP and chest X-ray on the 3rd, 6th and 9th days of treatment but no significant difference was observed. Residual shadows at the discontinuance of treatment were present in 61% of Group A and in 36% of Group B but they disappeared gradually in both groups. No recurrent cases were observed in either Group A or B within 1 month after treatment was finished. As for the PAP treatment period using an intravenous drip infusion of minocycline, no significant clinical difference was observed between administration for 6 and 9 days, suggesting that the 6 days administration suffices for treatment. Even though the possible bacterial residue was unknown as no separation of mycoplasma pneumoniae was attempted, there were no recurrent cases.
