Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial of Oral Azithromycin Prophylaxis Against Respiratory Infections in a High-Risk, Young Adult Population
Abstract
Special Forces military trainees undergo intense psychological and physical stressors that often lead to respiratory disease and soft tissue infections, including necrotizing fasciitis. In an effort to prevent such morbidity, from September 1998 to March 2000, 477 Navy Special Forces trainees were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The trial compared 1 g weekly oral azithromycin plus a placebo injection with 1.2 million units benzathine penicillin G (BPG) plus azithromycin placebo tablets as prophylaxis against acute respiratory illness and cellulitis. Subjects were closely observed for the 2 weeks of training when stressors were the most intense. Among the 464 with near-complete data, 44 developed acute respiratory disease (20 with radiographic evidence of pneumonia), and 57 developed cellulitis or folliculitis requiring antibiotics. Twelve (27.3%) of the 44 patients with acute respiratory disease had evidence of C. pneumoniae infection and 8(18.2%) had evidence of M. pneumoniae infection. Trainees receiving azithromycin were less likely to develop acute respiratory disease.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA408859
Entities
People
- G. C. Gray
- K. M. Hiliopoulos
- M. T. Gould
- P. J. Witucki
- S. J. Bell
Organizations
- Naval Health Research Center