title: Comparative efficacy and safety of cefprozil versus penicillin, cefaclor and erythromycin in the treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis and tonsillitis.
abstract: Cefprozil is a new oral cephalosporin with an enhanced in vitro spectrum of activity that includes group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (GABHS). Four multicenter randomized clinical trials were conducted to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of cefprozil administered once or twice a day for the treatment of mild to moderate GABHS tonsillitis and pharyngitis. A total of 1597 patients were enrolled in the trials. Patient demographics and severity of infection were similar for all treatment groups. In Study 1, cefprozil administered at 20 mg/kg once daily was clinically, in 68 of 76 patients (89%) and bacteriologically, in 66 of 74 patients (89%) superior to penicillin -51 of 69 (74%) and 46 of 69 (67%)--administered three times a day in patients of two to 12 years of age. In Study 2, the patients enrolled were 13 years of age and older, and cefprozil administered at 20 mg/kg once a day had similar clinical (93% vs. 90%) and bacteriological (95% vs. 94%) response rates as cefaclor administered three times a day. Study 3 demonstrated that cefprozil administered twice daily was similar to penicillin given three times a day, the clinical satisfactory response being 164 of 175 (94%) for cefprozil and 146 of 165 (88%) for penicillin. In Study 4, identical clinical and bacteriologic responses (95%) were observed for cefprozil administered once a day and erythromycin ethylsuccinate administered four times a day in children over two years of age. There were no significant differences in the incidence or severity of drug-related adverse events, which, when reported, were mild and transient.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: California Research Medical Group, Fresno 93276.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: McCarty
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002433:Cefaclor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000187:drug effects*; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000097670:Cefprozil
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002433:Cefaclor; D002511:Cephalosporins; D004917:Erythromycin; D010406:Penicillins; D000097670:Cefprozil