Common antibiotic boosts death risk
A popular antibiotic used for treating bronchitis, pneumonia, ear
infections and sexually transmitted diseases may boost the risk of
death, a US study said Wednesday.
Azithromycin has been on the worldwide market since the 1980s, but
the study in the New England Journal of Medicine is the first to
document serious heart risks -- up to a 2.5-fold higher chance of
cardiovascular fatalities -- in the first five days of treatment
compared to another or no antibiotic.
The comparison was based on an examination of patient records in the
southern US state of Tennessee from 1992 to 2006.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University compared about 348,000
prescriptions of azithromycin to millions of records from people who
were not treated with any antibiotics or who received amoxicillin, a
similar medication that is considered heart safe.
The analysis found there were 47 more deaths per million in those
taking azithromycin compared to those on amoxicillin.
When researchers examined patients already at high risk for heart
problems, the chance increased to 245 additional cardiovascular deaths
per million in the azithromycin group compared to the amoxicillin
takers.
While the relative number of fatalities was low, researchers said the
findings offer new information about possible dangers that doctors and
patients should consider.
"We believe this study adds important information on the risk profile
for azithromycin," said lead author Wayne Ray, professor of preventive
medicine at Vanderbilt University.
"For patients with elevated cardiovascular risk and infections for
which there are alternative antibiotics, the cardiovascular effects of
azithromycin may be an important clinical consideration." The Croatian
pharmaceutical company Pliva first patented azithromycin in 1981, and
later struck a worldwide deal with Pfizer to sell the antibiotic
worldwide. Pfizer branded the treatment Zithromax and Zmax.
Azithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic that works by stopping the
growth of bacteria.
Side effects may include skin rashes, itching, swelling, difficulty
breathing or swallowing and rapid, pounding or irregular heartbeats,
according to the American Hospital Formulary Service. AFP |