[Community-acquired pneumonia in healthy adults: 188 patients treated with spiramycin in private practice]

One hundred and eighty eight outpatients with community acquired pneumonia have been treated by spiramycin in general practice. Community acquired pneumonia was defined by the association of fever > or = 38 degrees C, respiratory symptoms as cough, sputum production, dyspnea or thoracic pain, and pulmonary opacity on the chest X-Ray. The mean age of patients was 44.7 +/- 16.6 and few of them had concomitant chronic illness, as cardiovascular (9%) or bronchopulmonary disease (9%). Twenty one percent of patients have been included after a previous antibiotherapy failure. In 92% on these cases, prior antibiotherapy was a beta lactam. At inclusion, the fever was greater than 39 degrees C in 56% of patients, 58% had localized crepitations at the chest auscultation. The chest X-Ray was performed 1.4 +/- 2.1 days after inclusion and showed a lobar consolidation in 77%. One third of patients presented a clinical picture evoking acute bacterial pneumonia. One hundred and seventy one patients have been reviewed for a second evaluation 4 +/- 1.5 days after inclusion. One hundred and eighty seven patients have visited for the long term follow up 19 +/- 6.5 days after the onset of treatment. Ninety six per cent of them have consulted with a control chest X-ray. At this visit, the antibiotherapy was changed in 2 other patients with of failure. Overall, 83% of patients were clinically and radiologically cured by Spiramycin 3 MU twice a day for 13 +/- 3.5 days. Fourteen percent of patients were improved without necessity of changing the antibiotic regimen. This study confirms the efficacy of spiramycin in the management of community acquired pneumoniae in general practice, either in first line therapy of after the failure of beta lactam.