title: Treatment of respiratory tract infections in children: a study of a combination of amoxycillin and clavulanic acid.
abstract: In an open study, 70 in-patients and 23 out-patients aged between 1 and 14 years with sinusitis (n = 1), perforated otitis media (n = 4), pharyngotonsillitis (n = 25), tracheobronchitis (n = 30) or broncho-pneumonia (n = 33) were treated daily with a combination of 40 mg/kg amoxycillin and 10 mg/kg clavulanic acid in three equal doses for between 6 and 15 days. Purulent specimens were cultured when obtainable and pathogenic organisms identified were Staphylococcus aureus, beta-haemolytic streptococcal group A, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudococcus species and Klebsiella pneumoniae infections, of which 45.7% were beta-lactamase-producing and 54.3% were ampicillin-susceptible. After treatment, only one beta-lactamase-producing Streptococcus and one Staphylococcus infection persisted. Side-effects (vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea, maculopapular exanthema, rash) occurred in 16 patients and treatment was withdrawn in eight. It is concluded that the amoxycillin--clavulanic acid combination is a suitable first choice for the treatment of respiratory tract infections in children in whom the pathogenic organism may not have been established.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Clinic V San Paolo Hospital, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fiocchi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zuccotti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bellù
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marangione
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Riva
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giovannini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002969:Clavulanic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D002969:Clavulanic Acids; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; D000658:Amoxicillin