The Impact of Statin and Macrolide Use on Early Survival in Patients With Pneumococcal Pneumonia

Background: Mortality in pneumococcal pneumonia remains high despite early antibiotic eradication of bacteria. Most deaths occur within the first week, the time of peak inflammatory responses. Statins and macrolides have broad immunosuppressive activity; their impact, separately and together, on survival in patients with pneumococcal pneumonia was evaluated. Methods: All patients with pneumococcal pneumonia seen at a single medical center from 2000 through 2010 were included in this retrospective cohort study. A multivariate-adjusted Cox proportional hazard model was used to evaluate survival. Results: Of 347 patients with pneumococcal pneumonia, 90 (26%) were taking a statin at presentation and 126 (36%) were started on treatment with a macrolide. Thirty-two (9%) statin users were treated with a macrolide. Statin users were older than non-statin users, with a higher prevalence of diabetes, coronary artery disease and chronic kidney disease and a lower prevalence of alcohol consumption and liver disease. Statin users had higher mean Pneumonia Patient Outcomes Research Team scores. Patients treated with a macrolide were not different from those who received other antibiotics. The risk of mortality among statin users was reduced at 7, 14, 20 and 30 days after admission. Mortality was not reduced in patients treated with a macrolide or with a macrolide plus a statin compared with those who did not receive a macrolide. Conclusions: Patients who are receiving statins at the time of admission for pneumococcal pneumonia have better clinical outcomes than those who are not. Treatment with a macrolide does not appear to confer a survival benefit.