Could fewer antibiotics be better for MAC lung disease?

NCT ID NCT03672630

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This study tested whether taking two antibiotics instead of three is just as effective for treating a lung infection called MAC, while causing fewer side effects. 474 adults with MAC lung disease were randomly assigned to receive either two or three drugs for 12 months. The goal was to see if the two-drug regimen could clear the infection and be easier to tolerate.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
Azithromycin, Ethambutol, Rifampin
What this could lead to
If successful, this could show that a two-drug regimen works as well as three drugs, with fewer side effects for patients with MAC lung disease.
What could go wrong
This is a completed Phase 2/3 trial, but results may not apply to all patients, and reducing drugs could lower effectiveness in some cases.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for MYCOBACTERIUM AVIUM COMPLEX are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Columbia University Medical Center

    New York, New York, 10032, United States

  • Emory University

    Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States

  • Johns Hopkins University

    Baltimore, Maryland, 21224, United States

  • Kaiser Permanente Hawaii

    Honolulu, Hawaii, 96817, United States

  • Loma Linda University Medical Center

    Loma Linda, California, 92354, United States

  • Louisina State University

    New Orleans, Louisiana, 70112, United States

  • Mayo Clinic

    Rochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States

  • Medical University of South Carolina

    Charleston, South Carolina, 29425, United States

  • National Jewish Health

    Denver, Colorado, 80206, United States

  • New York University

    New York, New York, 10016, United States

  • Northwell Health

    Manhasset, New York, 11030, United States

  • Oregon Health & Science University

    Portland, Oregon, 97239, United States

  • Stanford University

    Stanford, California, 94305, United States

  • Tampa VA Medical Center

    Tampa, Florida, 33612, United States

  • Temple University

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19140, United States

  • University Health Network

    Toronto, Ontario, M5T2S8, Canada

  • University of California, San Diego

    San Diego, California, 92103, United States

  • University of California, San Francisco

    San Francisco, California, 94110, United States

  • University of Iowa

    Iowa City, Iowa, 52242, United States

  • University of Kansas

    Kansas City, Kansas, 66160, United States

  • University of Miami

    Miami, Florida, 33136, United States

  • University of North Carolina

    Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, United States

  • University of Texas Health Science Center

    Tyler, Texas, 75708, United States

  • University of Washington

    Seattle, Washington, 98104, United States

  • University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

    Madison, Wisconsin, 53705, United States

  • Vancouver Clinic

    Vancouver, Washington, 98664, United States

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.