Randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial of penicillin V and amoxycillin in treatment of acute sinus infections in adults.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effectiveness of penicillin V and amoxycillin with placebo in treatment of adult patients with acute sinusitis.


METHODS
Randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial.


METHODS
Norwegian general practice.


METHODS
130 adult patients with a clinical diagnosis of acute sinusitis confirmed by computed tomography.


METHODS
Subjective status after three and 10 days of treatment, difference in clinical severity score between day 0 and day 10 as evaluated by the general practitioner, difference in score from computed tomography on day 0 and day 10, and duration of sinusitis.


RESULTS
Amoxycillin and penicillin V led to significantly faster and better recovery than placebo. By day 10, 71 patients receiving antibiotic treatment- (86%) considered themselves to be recovered or much better compared with 25 (57%) receiving placebo. The mean (95% confidence interval) reductions in clinical severity scores by day 10 were 5.4 (5.0 to 5.8) for penicillin V, 5.5 (4.9 to 6.0 for amoxycillin, and 3.4 (2.8 to 4.0) for placebo. For the antibiotic groups combined the number of patients with the greatest degree of improvement on computed tomography (scale 0-16)-that is, score 5-16 on day 10-was 31/83 (37%) compared with 10/44 (23%) receiving placebo. The median duration of the sinusitis was nine days in the amoxycillin group, 11 days in the penicillin V group, and 17 days in the placebo group.


CONCLUSIONS
Penicillin V and amoxycillin are significantly more effective than placebo in the treatment of acute sinusitis.
Lindbaek
M
M
Department of General Practice, University of Oslo, Norway.
Hjortdahl
P
P
Johnsen
U L
UL
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010404:Penicillin V / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010406:Penicillins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010919:Placebos; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D010406:Penicillins; D010919:Placebos; D000658:Amoxicillin; D010404:Penicillin V