Effect of clarithromycin in patients with suspected Gram-negative sepsis: results of a randomized controlled trial

Results: The groups were well matched for demographics, disease severity, microbiology and appropriateness of theadministeredantimicrobials.Overall28 daymortalitywas17.1%(51deaths)intheplaceboarmand18.5%(56 deaths) in the clarithromycin arm (P ¼0.671). Nineteen out of 26 placebo-treated patients with septic shock and multiple organ dysfunctions died (73.1%) compared with 15 out of 28 clarithromycin-treated patients (53.6%, P ¼0.020). The median time until resolution of infection was 5 days in both arms. In the subgroup with severe sepsis/shock, this was 10 days in the placebo arm and 6 days in the clarithromycin arm (P ¼0.037). The cost of hospitalization was lower after treatment with clarithromycin (P ¼0.044). Serious adverse events were observed in 1.3% and 0.7% of placebo- and clarithromycin-treated patients, respectively (P ¼0.502).