title: Once-daily sparfloxacin versus high-dosage amoxicillin in the treatment of community-acquired, suspected pneumococcal pneumonia in adults. Sparfloxacin European Study Group.
abstract: The objective of this randomized, double-blind, multicenter study of 329 adult patients requiring hospitalization was to compare the safety and efficacy of sparfloxacin at a dosage of 200 mg once daily (following a 400-mg loading dose on day 1) with those of amoxicillin given as a 1-g oral dose three times daily for treatment of community-acquired pneumonia suspected to be due to Streptococcus pneumoniae. Success of treatment was determined by a combination of clinical assessment and chest radiography. Pneumococcal pneumonia was the confirmed diagnosis for 177 patients (54%). Overall rates of success among evaluable patients were equivalent between drugs, both at the end of treatment (sparfloxacin, 92%; amoxicillin, 87%) and at follow-up (sparfloxacin, 89%; amoxicillin, 84%). Sparfloxacin was well-tolerated and produced fewer gastrointestinal effects than amoxicillin. In conclusion, sparfloxacin is a safe and effective alternative to high-dose amoxicillin for the treatment of suspected pneumococcal community-acquired pneumonia.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Bichat, Service de Pneumologie, Paris, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aubier
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Verster
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Regamey
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Geslin
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Vercken
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010406:Penicillins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011018:Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015363:Quinolones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D010406:Penicillins; D015363:Quinolones; D000658:Amoxicillin; C061363:sparfloxacin