Dexamethasone Shortens Hospitalization in Uncomplicated Community-Acquired Pneumonia

Some of the considerable morbidity and mortality associated with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) probably results from organ damage caused by systemic inflammation. Low-dose corticosteroids might improve outcomes by reducing systemic inflammation without compromising control of the local infection, but few studies have tested this hypothesis.

Researchers in the Netherlands randomized 304 non-immunocompromised patients with confirmed CAP to receive daily intravenous dexamethasone (5 mg) or matching placebo for 4 days along with usual intravenous, and then oral, antibiotics. The primary endpoint was days to hospital discharge, intended as a marker for overall morbidity. Patients who were admitted directly to the intensive care unit and thos…