Comparison of amoxicillin and azithromycin in the prevention of recurrent acute otitis media.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the outcome of patients with recurrent acute otitis media (AOM) treated either with amoxicillin or with azithromycin.


METHODS
This prospective, controlled, and randomized study, compares the outcome of 71 patients with recurrent AOM treated with azithromycin (31 patients) or amoxicillin (40 patients) for the prevention of AOM. azithromycin was given at a dose of 10 mg/kg once a week, whereas amoxicillin was administered daily as a single intake of one third of the therapeutic dosage (20 mg/kg per day). All treatments were prescribed for 3 months. Both groups were homogeneous with regard to the currently accepted predisposing factors of recurrent AOM. Mean age of children was 35.3 months, and average follow-up was 11.5 months. The treatment was considered effective when the number of episodes of AOM dropped to less than 50% after the prophylaxis.


RESULTS
Patients in the azithromycin group had a clinical response to prophylaxis (80.6%) comparable to those treated with amoxicillin (89.5%) (P=0.300). The incidence of adverse effects was similar in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
According to these results, a prophylaxis with azithromycin is as useful as amoxicillin to prevent recurrent AOM.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, La Paz Hospital, Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain. jidediegompprim@retemail.es
J I
JI
De Diego
M P
MP
Prim
C
C
Alfonso
N
N
Sastre
I
I
Rabanal
J
J
Gavilan
D000208:Acute Disease; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010406:Penicillins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010406:Penicillins; D000658:Amoxicillin; D017963:Azithromycin