Tratamientos antimicrobianos abreviados en pacientes adultos

Abstract

Short-term antibiotic therapy is an alternative for managing community-acquired infections that may improve compliance, decrease acquisition costs and limit potential drug-related adverse effects. Several trials have validated its use in streptococcal pharyngitis, acute bacterial sinusitis, noncomplicated acute cystitis, urethritis, and certain types of community-acquired pneumonia or diarrheal syndrome with similar efficacy and safety than a standard or reference treatment. Short-term antibiotic therapy represents currently the standard modality of treatment for certain types of infectious diarrhea, non-complicated acute cystitis or urethritis of different etiologies. In communityacquired pneumonia, only azithromycin has been validated and is restricted for outpatient settings. This compound is probably the most efficient choice for patients with pneumonia and associated comorbidity that do not require admission if pneumococcal resistance to macrolides remains low. Moreover, azithromycin together with dirithromycin and telithromycin represent good alternatives for acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. Higher acquisition costs restrain the potential advantages of shortterm therapy for streptococcal tonsillitis and acute bacterial sinusitis.