title: Sulbactam/ampicillin in the treatment of otitis and sinusitis.
abstract: The importance of beta-lactamase-producing strains in acute otitis media and acute/chronic sinusitis, and the effectiveness of sulbactam/ampicillin were ascertained in vitro and in vivo. Of the strains isolated from 19 patients with otitis media, 40% are beta-lactamase producers whereas 44% of strains isolated from 22 patients with sinusitis produced beta-lactamase. When the most commonly isolated strains were treated with a range of antibiotics in vitro, they all showed 100% sensitivity to sulbactam/ampicillin. The clinical results for otitis media showed 63% recovery and 26% improvement, with only one (5%) failure (one patient did not complete treatment). For sinusitis the results were 55% recovery and 45% improvement, and no failures. For sinusitis, the end-of-treatment microbiological results showed complete eradication of the pathogens responsible for infection. The results indicate that sulbactam/ampicillin is an effective treatment for infections of the ear, nose and throat.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology, University of Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Speciale
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caccamo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Raso
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000667:Ampicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008875:Middle Aged; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D013407:Sulbactam / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: C035444:sultamicillin; D000667:Ampicillin; D001618:beta-Lactamases; D013407:Sulbactam