Guan Zhang,1 Qian Li,2 Jing Zhang1 

1Department of Infection, Taihe County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Buyang City, Anhui Province, 236600, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Pharmacy, Taihe County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Buyang City, Anhui Province, 236600, People’s Republic of China

Correspondence: Guan Zhang, Department of Infection, Taihe County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 59 Tuanjie West Road, Taihe County, Fuyang City, Anhui Province, 236600, People’s Republic of China, Email guanzhangth@163.com

Objective: To explore the clinical effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) plus azithromycin in the treatment of Mycoplasma pneumonia (MP).
Methods: This was a retrospective study including the clinical data of 119 patients with MP treated at Taihe County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from April 2021 to November 2023. According to treatment records, 58 cases were treated with conventional therapy and azithromycin (azithromycin group), and 61 cases were treated with conventional therapy, azithromycin, and Xiaoxianxiong decoction and Weijing decoction and acupoint application (TCM + azithromycin group). The treatment outcomes, levels of inflammatory status indicators before and after treatment, respiratory function status, and incidence of adverse reactions were analyzed between the two groups.
Results: The overall effective rate of TCM + azithromycin group was significantly higher than that of azithromycin group (P< 0.05). After treatment, the serum C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and white blood cell count (WBC) levels in both groups significantly decreased compared to before treatment, and the TCM + azithromycin group was significantly lower than the azithromycin group (P< 0.05). After treatment, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) in both groups significantly decreased compared to before treatment, while oxygen partial pressure (PaO2) and oxygenation index (OI) significantly increased compared to before treatment; Moreover, the TCM + azithromycin group had significantly lower PaCO2 and higher PaO2 and OI than the azithromycin group (P< 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups (P> 0.05).
Conclusion: Compared with treatment with azithromycin alone, intervention with TCM + azithromycin can significantly improve the respiratory function of patients with MP, reduce the degree of inflammatory response, and enhance the overall treatment effect without increasing the incidence of adverse reactions.
Core Tip: This study indicates that intervention with traditional Chinese medicine and azithromycin can significantly improve the respiratory function of MP patients, reduce the degree of inflammatory response, improve overall treatment efficacy, and is safe.

Keywords: Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xiaoxianxiong decoction, Weijing decoction, acupoint application, azithromycin, mycoplasma pneumonia