The study was performed to see if a single, 2.0-g oral dose of azithromycin sustained release (SR) was at least as effective as a 7-day regimen of levofloxacin (500 mg once daily) for the treatment of mild to moderate community-acquired pneumonia, and to assess the efficacy and safety of both treatment regimens.

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients with clinical evidence of mild to moderate community-acquired pneumonia, including cough productive of sputum and a diagnosis of pneumonia, were included.

Exclusion Criteria:

Key exclusion criteria were treatment with any systemic antibiotic of greater than one dose or one combination dose within the previous 7 days, previously diagnosed conditions which tend to mimic or complicate the course and the evaluation of the evaluation process (e.g., bronchiectasis, lung abscess or empyema, active tuberculosis, pulmonary malignancy, cystic fibrosis, post-obstructive pneumonia), hospitalization in the previous 14 days or infection acquired in the hospital, and residents of a long-term care facility.