Role of Antibiotics in Treatment of Measles Secondary Bacterial Pneumonia

Early Treatment Saves Lives

By Peter A. McCullough, MD, MPH

As we heard the tragic story on CHD-TV told by the Mennonite parents of a little girl who died of an inadequately treated secondary bacterial pneumonia, I wondered if there have been trials of early antibiotics to cover secondary bacterial pathogens complicating measles viral pneumonia.

Garly et al conducted a prospective randomized placebo-controlled trial of sufa-trimethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra) a widely available, generic antibiotic in patients with severe measles. Of note, 59% had been vaccinated for measles just a few years earlier.