title: Cefuroxime compared to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia.
abstract: The study compared the efficacy and safety of cefuroxime (CFX) versus amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (AC) in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia. A total of 48 patients (mean age 44 years; 32 males and 16 females) were randomised to receive sequential intravenous/oral CFX (750 mg i.v. 8H for 48 H/500 mg p.o bid) and sequential intravenous/oral AC (1.2 g i.v. 8 H for 48 H/ 750 mg p.o. tid) for 7-14 days. The two groups were well matched for age, sex and treatment duration (median 7 days). The most frequent causative organisms were Mycoplasma (3), Klebsiella species (2), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2) and hemolytic streptococcus (2). clinical cure was obtained in 20 patients (83.3%) and 18 patients (75%) of CFX and AC group respectively. Clinical improvement was observed in one patient of the CFX group. There were 3 failures in the CFX group and 4 failures in the AC group. Two patients in the AC group developed adverse drug reactions (namely vomiting and rash) and were withdrawn from the study. In conclusion, cefuroxime and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid have comparable efficacy and safety in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002444:Cefuroxime / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019818:Clavulanic Acid; D002969:Clavulanic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010406:Penicillins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002511:Cephalosporins; D002969:Clavulanic Acids; D010406:Penicillins; D019818:Clavulanic Acid; D000658:Amoxicillin; D002444:Cefuroxime