Effectiveness of ceftriaxone plus doxycycline in the treatment of patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Limited data exist on the effectiveness of ceftriaxone plus doxycycline in the treatment of patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of all adults hospitalized for pneumonia between January 1999 and July 2001 at an academic medical center. Outcomes were compared for patients with CAP treated with ceftriaxone plus doxycycline versus other appropriate initial empiric antibiotic therapies. Outcomes were adjusted with the use of a propensity score to account for differences in patient characteristics and illness severity between groups.

RESULTS: A total of 216 patients were treated with ceftriaxone plus doxycycline and 125 received other appropriate initial empiric antibiotic therapies. After adjustment, use of ceftriaxone plus doxycycline was associated with reduced inpatient mortality (OR = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.08-0.81) and 30-day mortality (OR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.17-0.81), but not with length of stay or readmission rates. Analysis of a subset of the sample that excluded patients admitted from nursing homes, patients admitted to the ICU, and patients diagnosed with aspiration also showed reduced inpatient mortality with the use of ceftriaxone plus doxycycline.

CONCLUSIONS: The use of ceftriaxone plus doxycycline as an initial empiric therapy for patients hospitalized with CAP appears safe and effective, and its potential superiority should be evaluated prospectively.