title: Mecillinam, a new prophylactic for travellers' diarrhoea. A prospective double-blind study in tourists travelling to Egypt and the Far East.
abstract: The efficacy of mecillinam when given orally in preventing travellers' diarrhoea has been studied. Preliminary investigations in volunteers showed that single daily doses of up to 200 mg for 3 weeks were well tolerated. A randomised double-blind study was carried out in a group of tourists visiting Egypt and the Far East. The subjects took either mecillinam (200 mg daily) or placebo for 25 days. 19/36 tourists (53%) taking placebo and 5/38 tourists (13%) taking mecillinam developed travellers' diarrhoea during the treatment period (p less than 0.001). In the placebo group enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (LT/ST) were found in 2 cases of diarrhoea and Salmonella in another 2 cases. In the remaining cases of diarrhoea the etiological agent was not found in either of the 2 groups.
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000560:Amdinocillin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004534:Egypt; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005202:Asia, Eastern; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010397:Penicillanic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012475:Salmonella / Q000187:drug effects; D012480:Salmonella Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014195:Travel
chemical_list: D010397:Penicillanic Acid; D004318:Doxycycline; D000560:Amdinocillin