Efficacy of cefuroxime axetil suspension compared with that of penicillin V suspension in children with group A streptococcal pharyngitis.
The bacteriological and clinical efficacies of cefuroxime axetil suspension (20 mg/kg of body weight per day in two divided doses) were compared with those of penicillin V suspension (50 mg/kg/day in three divided doses) in a multicenter, randomized, evaluator-blinded study. Children aged 2 to 13 years with clinical signs and symptoms of acute pharyngitis and a positive throat culture for group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (GABHS) were eligible. Patients were assessed and samples from the throat for culture were obtained at the time of diagnosis, 3 to 7 days after the initiation of treatment, and 4 to 8 days and 19 to 25 days after the completion of 10 days of therapy. Of the 385 evaluable patients, GABHS were eradicated from 244 of 259 (94.2%) cefuroxime-treated patients and 106 of 126 (84.1%) penicillin-treated patients (P = 0.001). Complete resolution of the signs and symptoms present at the time of diagnosis was achieved in 238 of 259 (91.9%) cefuroxime-treated patients and 102 of 126 (81.0%) penicillin-treated patients (P = 0.001). Potential drug-related adverse events were reported in 7.0 and 3.2% of the cefuroxime- and penicillin-treated patients, respectively (P = 0.078). In the present study, cefuroxime axetil suspension given twice daily resulted in significantly greater bacteriological and clinical efficacies than those of penicillin V suspension given three times daily to pediatric patients with acute pharyngitis and a positive throat culture for GABHS.
Gooch
W M
WM
Primary Children's Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah 84113-1100.
McLinn
S E
SE
Aronovitz
G H
GH
Pichichero
M E
ME
Kumar
A
A
Kaplan
E L
EL
Ossi
M J
MJ
D000208:Acute Disease; D000367:Age Factors; D002444:Cefuroxime / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010404:Penicillin V / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes; D013535:Suspensions
D013535:Suspensions; D002444:Cefuroxime; C040738:cefuroxime axetil; D010404:Penicillin V