A comparison of a five-day regimen of cefdinir with a seven-day regimen of loracarbef for the treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis.

Abstract

To compare the efficacy and safety of five-day cefdinir treatment with seven-day loracarbef treatment in patients with acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, 586 patients were enrolled in a multicentre, randomised, double-blind trial. Patients received either five days of treatment with cefdinir (n = 291) at 300 mg twice daily or seven days of treatment with loracarbef (n = 295) at 400 mg twice daily. Microbiological assessments were done on sputum specimens obtained at admission and at the two post-therapy visits, if available. The clinical cure rates were 86% (138/160) and 85% (141/166) for the evaluable patients treated with cefdinir and loracarbef, respectively. Respiratory tract pathogens were isolated from 457 (78%) of 586 admission sputum specimens, with the predominant pathogens being Haemophilus parainfluenzae, H. influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis and Staphylococcus aureus. The microbiological eradication rates at the test-of-cure visit were 88% (193/219 pathogens) and 90% (227/251 pathogens) for the evaluable patients treated with cefdinir and loracarbef, respectively. Adverse event rates while on treatment were 30% and 21% for cefdinir- and loracarbef-treated patients, respectively. These results indicate that a five-day regimen of cefdinir is effective and safe for the treatment of patients with acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis.

• Authors: R Z Paster, M A McAdoo, C H Keyserling, M A Nemeth, K J Tack, T J Griffin
• Journal: International journal of clinical practice (Int J Clin Pract) Vol. 54 Issue 5 Pg. 293-9 (Jun 2000) ISSN: 1368-5031 [Print] India
• PMID: 10954955 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anti-Infective Agents
• Cephalosporins
• loracarbef
• Cefdinir

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Anti-Infective Agents (therapeutic use)
• Bacterial Infections (drug therapy, microbiology)
• Bronchitis (drug therapy, microbiology)
• Cefdinir
• Cephalosporins (therapeutic use)
• Chronic Disease
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prospective Studies
• Sputum (chemistry, microbiology)
• Treatment Outcome