Azithromycin received considerable attention during the COVID-19 pandemic for its potential antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects and is also commonly used for coverage of atypical respiratory infections. At the same time, increasing antimicrobial resistance has raised questions about when its use is most appropriate.
A recent NEJM study evaluated whether azithromycin could reduce the severity of wheezing-related symptoms in preschool children presenting to the ED with acute wheezing. The trial was stopped early after the initial enrollment because of a safety concern identified during the study.
An interesting study with important implications for emergency medicine and antimicrobial stewardship. Please see the link for further details and analysis.
Link to article