title: Efficacy of twice-daily dosing of amoxycillin/clavulanate in acute otitis media in children.
abstract: Children with acute otitis media (AOM), aged 2-12 years, were randomised to 10 days treatment with amoxycillin/clavulanate (A/C) 70/10 mg/kg/day given b.i.d. (231 patients) or to A/C 60/15 mg/kg/day given t.i.d. (232 patients). Clinical success rates at end of therapy (10-17 days) were 91.8% for the b.i.d. group and 90.5% for the t.i.d. group and at follow-up (28-42 days) were 80.1% for the b.i.d. group and 77.6% for the t.i.d. group, indicating that the b.i.d. regimen was as effective as the t.i.d. regimen. There was no statistically significant difference in incidence of adverse experiences between the two groups. The overall incidence of protocol defined diarrhoea assessed from diary booklets was low, with a lower incidence in the b.i.d. group (6.7%) than in the t.i.d. group (10.3%). Significantly more patients in the b.i.d. group (83.1%) than in the t.i.d. group (72.8%) had at least 80% compliance over a 7-10 day treatment period. A/C given twice or three-times daily was highly effective in the treatment of AOM in children. The two regimens showed equivalent clinical efficacy, both were well tolerated, and there was evidence of improved compliance with the b.i.d. regimen.
authors.affiliation: Sligo Health Centre, Ireland.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Behre
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Burow
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cree
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Harrison
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019818:Clavulanic Acid; D002969:Clavulanic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010406:Penicillins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002969:Clavulanic Acids; D010406:Penicillins; D019818:Clavulanic Acid; D000658:Amoxicillin