The primary endpoint was clinical cure at day 15: no fever, absence of or improvement in respiratory symptoms (dyspnea, cough, purulent sputum, and cackles), and no need for additional antibiotic treatment for any indication.
Secondary endpoints were cure at day 30, 30-day mortality, adverse events, length of stay, return to usual activities by day 30, and quality of life at day 30.
Many of the generally elderly patient cohort had comorbid illnesses, including diabetes (about 20%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (about 35%), and coronary insufficiency (about 14%). About 20% were active smokers. Less than 10% had gotten a pneumococcal vaccine in the past 5 years.
At admission, more than half of patients were dyspneic, 80% had cough, and 39% had purulent sputum. The median PSI/PORT Score was 82.
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