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  • Title: An open comparative study of azithromycin and roxithromycin in the treatment of acute upper respiratory tract infections.
    Author: Müller O.
    Journal: J Antimicrob Chemother; 1996 Jun; 37 Suppl C():83-92. PubMed ID: 8818849.
    Abstract:
    An open, multicentre study was undertaken in order to evaluate the efficacies and safety profiles of azithromycin and roxithromycin in 440 adults with acute otitis media, sinusitis or acute beta-haemiolytic streptococcal pharyngitis/tonsillitis. Treatment with 500 mg azithromycin, administered orally once daily for 3 days, produced a satisfactory clinical outcome (cure or improvement) in 51/52 (98%) patients with otitis media, 91/91 (100%) patients with pharyngitis/tonsillitis and 64/68 (94%) patients with sinusitis. Treatment with 150 mg roxithromycin, given orally twice daily for 10 days, produced satisfactory clinical responses in 54/55 (98%), 91/92 (99%) and 69/73 (94%) patients with otitis media, pharyngitis/tonsillitis and sinusitis respectively. Of the 17 azithromycin-treated patients with sinusitis who were clinically and bacteriologically evaluable, Staphylococcus aureus persisted in two and Streptococcus pneumoniae in one. S. aureus also persisted in 1/12 clinically and bacteriologically-evaluable patient treated with roxithromycin. Of the 58 and 64 patients with pharyngitis/tonsillitis treated with azithromycin and roxithromycin, respectively, who were clinically and bacteriologically evaluable, Streptococcus pyogenes persisted at the end of treatment in 7/58 (12%) in the azithromycin group and in 13/64 (20%) in the roxithromycin group. At follow-up, there was no evidence of S. pyogenes reinfection in patients treated with azithromycin. Three episodes of reinfection occurred in the roxithromycin treatment group. Also, three patients showed evidence of clinical relapse at follow-up, although no pathogens were isolated. Azithromycin was associated with a lower incidence of adverse events. No azithromycin-treated patient was withdrawn prematurely because of a treatment-related event. Three roxithromycin-treated patients were withdrawn from treatment because of severe headache, thyroiditis or fatigue. In conclusion, for adults with acute upper respiratory tract infections, a 3-day course of once-daily azithromycin was found to be as effective and as well tolerated as a 10-day course of twice-daily roxithromycin.
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