Erythromycin prophylaxis for Legionnaire's disease in immunosuppressed patients in a contaminated hospital environment.
Transplantation
; 41(1): 52-4, 1986 Jan.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-3942015
ABSTRACT
Between January 1 and June 30, 1983, immunosuppressive drugs were administered in 20 renal transplant recipients undergoing 23 rejection episodes and in 3 patients with renal failure secondary to systemic disease. Legionella pneumophila, serogroup 1, pneumonia was diagnosed on 12/26 (47%) occasions. In an attempt to decrease this high rate, a program of erythromycin prophylaxis was instituted for every new patient who received immunosuppressive chemotherapy until eradication of the organism from the water supply could be realized. From July 1, 1983 to April 30, 1984, erythromycin prophylaxis (1.5-3 g/day by mouth) was administered during 39 episodes of high-dose immunosuppression (20 kidney graft recipients and 4 patients with systemic diseases); no cases of Legionnaire's disease were recorded. During the same period, erythromycin prophylaxis was withheld from 9 other high-dose immunosuppression episodes (7 kidney graft recipients and one patient with sarcoidosis); 5 cases of Legionnaire's disease occurred (56%) in this group. We conclude that erythromycin effectively protects immunocompromised patients in an environment contaminated with L pneumophila.
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Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Enfermedad de los Legionarios
/
Eritromicina
/
Infección Hospitalaria
/
Brotes de Enfermedades
Tipo de estudio:
Etiology_studies
Límite:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
País/Región como asunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Transplantation
Año:
1986
Tipo del documento:
Article