In a Meta-Analysis, Steroids Didn't Lower Mortality in Patients with Community-Acquired Pneumonia

The cornerstone of treating patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is early and appropriate antibiotics. For several decades, clinicians have wondered whether treating the inflammation that often contributes to more-severe disease would be beneficial. Corticosteroids are the most common adjunctive therapy studied, and results have been mixed.

Investigators performed a meta-analysis of 16 trials that involved nearly 4000 patients hospitalized with CAP who were randomized to receive either corticosteroids or placebo. Seven studies included patients with severe CAP. The specific corticosteroid administered and the duration of therapy varied between trials. Mortality was similar between groups, even when the effect of higher average da…