Clarithromycin versus cefaclor in lower respiratory tract infections. The Canadian Bronchitis Study Group.
A randomized study was done to compare the efficacy of clarithromycin 250 mg or 500 mg b.i.d., vs. cefaclor 250 mg or 500 mg t.i.d. for 7-14 d in 197 evaluable patients with lower respiratory tract infection. Ninety-five patients received clarithromycin, 88 with acute bronchitis or exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, and 7 with pneumonia. One hundred and two patients received cefaclor, 86 with bronchitis and 16 with pneumonia. Ten patients (10.5%) in the clarithromycin group did not complete the trial, 5 (5.3%) because of adverse event, and 3 (3.2%) because of clinical failure. Similarly, 11 patients (10.8%) did not complete cefaclor, 2 (2%) because of adverse event, and 7 (6.9%) because of clinical failure. Clinical cure or improvement was observed in 90 (94.7%) of patients on clarithromycin vs. 92 (90.2%) on cefaclor, p = 0.66. Bacteriologic cure was seen in 26/36 patients (72.2%) on clarithromycin vs. 28/40 patients (70%) on cefaclor, p = 0.28. Clarithromycin is just as effective as cefaclor for lower respiratory tract infections and is well tolerated.
Fong
I W
IW
St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Ontario.
Laforge
J
J
Dubois
J
J
Small
D
D
Grossman
R
R
Zakhari
R
R
D001991:Bronchitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D002433:Cefaclor / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects
D002433:Cefaclor; D017291:Clarithromycin