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Use of the macrolide antibiotics erythromycin and azithromycin has been associated with excess risk for cardiac death, possibly through QT-interval prolongation (NEJM JW Gen Med May 22 2012 and NEJM JW Pediatr Adolesc Med Nov 8 2004). Clarithromycin use has been associated with excess risk for adverse cardiac events in patients with lung disease (NEJM JW Gen Med Apr 9 2013). In this Danish national cohort study of adults (age range, 40–74) who received 7-day courses of clarithromycin, roxithromycin (not marketed in the U.S.), or penicillin, investigators determined risk for cardiac-related death associated with these drugs.
A total of 285 cardiac-related deaths occurred during antibiotic use. In analyses adjusted for potentially confounding …