title: Comparative efficacy of chloramphenicol, ampicillin, and co-trimoxazole in the treatment of typhoid fever.
abstract: Two clinical trials were conducted to compare the efficacy of 3 antimicrobial agents often recommended for the treatment of typhoid fever. Chloramphenicol was more effective than parenteral ampicillin or oral co-trimoxazole (trimethaprim/sulphamethoxazole) in reducing the duration of fever. Oral chloramphenicol was more effective than parenteral chloramphenicol probably because oral doses resulted in higher blood concentrations of the drug. However, parenteral chloramphenicol was given during the initial period of acute illness, without loss of efficacy.
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000667:Ampicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008297:Male; D010284:Paratyphoid Fever / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D012482:Salmonella paratyphi A / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012485:Salmonella typhi / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014295:Trimethoprim / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014435:Typhoid Fever / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D002701:Chloramphenicol; D000667:Ampicillin; D014295:Trimethoprim; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole