Palatability of oral antibiotics among children in an urban primary care center.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the palatability of antimicrobial agents effective against beta-lactamase-producing bacteria in American children.


METHODS
In a taste test of 4 antimicrobial agents, azithromycin (cherry flavored), cefprozil (bubble gum flavored), cefixime (strawberry flavored), and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (banana flavored) were compared.


METHODS
An urban inner-city primary care clinic.


METHODS
A volunteer sample of 30 healthy children (aged 5-8 years).


METHODS
Palatability was determined using a single-blind taste test of 4 flavored antimicrobial agents. The 4 antimicrobial agents used were azithromycin, cefprozil, cefixime, and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid.


METHODS
After each antimicrobial test dose, subjects rated the taste on a 10-cm visual analog scale incorporating a facial hedonic scale. Preference assessments for the best-tasting and worst-tasting agent were also conducted.


RESULTS
Of the 20 children who expressed a preference, significantly more children (9 [45%], P<.05) selected the cefixime preparation as the best-tasting formulation compared with the other preparations. The cefixime preparation was also significantly the least likely to be selected as the worst-tasting preparation (2 [10%], P<.05). There were no significant differences between the other 3 preparations with respect to being selected as either the best or worst tasting. The mean (+/- SD) visual analog scale score for cefixime was highest (8.53 [2.49]) compared with the scores for azithromycin (6.78 [3.45]), cefprozil (6.26 [4.04]), and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (6.24 [4.01]).


CONCLUSIONS
The cefixime preparation was most commonly rated as best tasting by children.
Angelilli
M L
ML
Division of General Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Wayne State University, Detroit 48201, USA. mangeli@med.wayne.edu
Toscani
M
M
Matsui
D M
DM
Rieder
M J
MJ
D000284:Administration, Oral; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D020682:Cefixime / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005421:Flavoring Agents; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D013649:Taste; D014505:Urban Population; D000097670:Cefprozil
D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017963:Azithromycin; D020682:Cefixime; D002511:Cephalosporins; D005421:Flavoring Agents; D000097670:Cefprozil