Prednisolone not beneficial in pneumonia

The researchers, led by Dr. Dominic Snijders of the Alkmaar Medical Center, said patients with mild to moderate pneumonia should not be routinely prescribed prednisolone, a corticosteroid, because it is associated with a recurrence of symptoms after its withdrawal.

The scientists said their findings came from the first randomized double-blind clinical trial to address the subject.

"Prednisolone therapy next to antibiotic therapy in patients hospitalized with (community-acquired pneumonia) should not be recommend due to lack of clinical benefit and a higher rate of late failures," Snijders said.

The researchers' findings appear in the early online edition of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

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