Comparative study of azithromycin and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections.
Forty-eight patients with acute bronchitis and four with pneumonia were randomly assigned to receive five doses (500 mg on day 1, plus 250 mg/day on days 2-5) of azithromycin; 54 patients with acute bronchitis and four with pneumonia were assigned 30 doses (625 mg every eight hours for ten days) of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (CA). The two regimens were equally effective, with clinical improvement or cure in 92% and 87% of patients respectively, bacteriological cure in 89% and 86%, with 91% and 89% of pathogens eliminated. Minor side effects occurred in 6% and 12% of patients in the two groups, respectively. No major abnormalities in laboratory safety parameters were seen in either group.
Balmes
P
P
Service de Pneumologie, Centre Hospitalier Regional et Universitaire, Nimes, France.
Clerc
G
G
Dupont
B
B
Labram
C
C
Pariente
R
R
Poirier
R
R
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; D017963:Azithromycin; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002969:Clavulanic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects
D002969:Clavulanic Acids; D004917:Erythromycin; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; D000658:Amoxicillin; D017963:Azithromycin