title: A randomized comparative study of levofloxacin versus amoxicillin/clavulanate for treatment of infants and young children with recurrent or persistent acute otitis media.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The need for alternative antimicrobial therapy for recurrent and persistent acute otitis media (AOM) in children has raised interest in assessing the efficacy and safety of fluoroquinolones for treatment of these infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  In an evaluator-blinded, active-comparator, noninferiority, multicenter study, children (6 months to <5 years) were randomized 1:1 to receive levofloxacin (10 mg/kg twice daily) or amoxicillin/clavulanate (14:1; amoxicillin 45 mg/kg twice daily) for 10 days, with evaluations 4-6 days of therapy (visit 2), 2-5 days after completing therapy (visit 3), and 10-17 days after last dose (visit 4). Primary outcome was clinical cure at visit 3 based on resolution of clinical signs and symptoms of AOM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1650 children were randomized and 1305 were clinically evaluable at visit 3 (630 levofloxacin, 675 comparator). Clinical cure rates were 72.4% (456 of 630) in levofloxacin-treated and 69.9% (472 of 675) in amoxicillin/clavulanate-treated children. Cure rates were also similar for levofloxacin and comparator for each age group (< or =24 months: 68.9% versus 66.2%; >24 months: 76.9% versus 75.1%; respectively). Cure rates at visit 4 were 74.9% and 73.8% in levofloxacin and amoxicillin/clavulanate groups, respectively. The upper limits of the confidence intervals were less than the noninferiority margin of 10% indicating that levofloxacin treatment is noninferior to comparator treatment overall and in both infants (6 months to 2 years) and children 2-5 years. No differences between treatment groups regarding the frequency or type of adverse events were apparent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Levofloxacin was not inferior to amoxicillin/clavulanate for the treatment of recurrent and/or persistent AOM in infants and children.
authors.affiliation: Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C., Raritan, NJ 08869, USA. gnoel1@prdus.jnj.com
authors.forename: Gary J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Noel
authors.forename: Jeffrey L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Blumer
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Pichichero
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hedrick
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Dainius A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Balis
authors.forename: Rama
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Melkote
authors.forename: Partha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bagchi
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arguedas
mesh_terms: D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D064704:Levofloxacin; D008297:Male; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D064704:Levofloxacin; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; D015242:Ofloxacin