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Review
. 2004 Dec;18(4):963-74; x-xi.
doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2004.07.010.

Re-evaluation of the therapy of severe pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae

Joseph F Plouffe Jr  1 , Daniel R Martin
Affiliations
Review

Re-evaluation of the therapy of severe pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae

Joseph F Plouffe Jr et al. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2004 Dec.

Abstract

Pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most deadly form of community-acquired pneumonia. The death rate of bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia has remained constant over the past 50 years. Several retrospective reviews of bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia suggest that dual therapy with a beta-lactam and a macrolide antimicrobial agent is associated with a lower case fatality rate than therapy with a beta-lactam alone. These studies are reviewed, potential mechanisms are suggested, and future studies are discussed.

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