Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, Vol 41, 75-80, Copyright © 1998 by The British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
CR Salvarezza, H Mingrone, H Fachinelli and S Kijanczuk
This study compared the efficacy and tolerability of once-daily dosing with
either roxithromycin or cefixime in previously healthy adult patients aged
between 18 and 60 with markers of uncomplicated community- acquired
pneumonia (CAP) in three outpatient clinics in an open, randomized study.
Sixty patients were enrolled: 17 males and 13 females received
roxithromycin 300 mg once daily for 8-10 days and 22 males and eight
females received 400 mg cefixime once daily for the same period. All
patients were assessed clinically, radiologically and bacteriologically
before inclusion, immediately after the study and approximately 1 month
later. The most common pathogen isolated from sputum was Streptococcus
pneumoniae (in 26 (43%) of 60 patients), with mixed organisms isolated from
the sputum of 18 (30%) of 60 patients. Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus
influenzae or Moraxella catarrhalis occurred in 11/60 patients, and
atypical pathogens were detected by serology in 7/26 cases in the
roxithromycin group and 3/23 in the cefixime group. The severity of
infection was rated as mild to moderate at the beginning of the trial. At
the end of the study treatment period, clinical cure rates were 30/30
(100%) for roxithromycin and 28/30 (94%) for cefixime, with one patient on
cefixime being classed as a partial responder and one patient being classed
as a failure and withdrawn. However, radiological abnormalities persisted
in three patients on roxithromycin and one on cefixime. Of the 59 patients
who completed the study, none required further antibiotic therapy. No
abnormal laboratory parameters or adverse events were reported in either
group. Roxithromycin at a daily dose of 300 mg was an effective and
well-tolerated treatment for the empirical treatment of mild to moderate
CAP in this group of patients.
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Comparison of roxithromycin with cefixime in the treatment of adults with community-acquired pneumonia
Clinica del Torax, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.
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