Newer macrolides as empiric treatment for acute Q fever infection.

The effectiveness of newer macrolides in acute Q fever for 113 patients was recorded. The mean times to defervescence were 2.9 days for doxycycline and 3.3, 3.9, 3.9, and 6.4 days for clarithromycin, roxithromycin, erythromycin, and beta-lactams, respectively (P < 0.01 for macrolides versus beta-lactams). We conclude that macrolides may be an adequate empirical antibiotic therapy for acute Q fever.