Simplified treatment of acute lower respiratory tract infection with azithromycin: a comparison with erythromycin and amoxycillin. European Azithromycin Study Group

J Int Med Res. 1991 Sep-Oct;19(5):373-83. doi: 10.1177/030006059101900503.

Abstract

In two randomized, multicentre studies azithromycin treatment (1.5 g in five or six doses over 5 days) was compared with erythromycin treatment (14 or 20 g in 28 or 40 doses over 7 or 10 days) and amoxycillin treatment (10.5 g in 21 doses over 7 days) in patients with acute respiratory tract infection. In the two separate studies, azithromycin gave complete clinical cure in 70% and 51%, respectively, of patients compared with in 60% of erythromycin- and 45% of amoxycillin-treated patients. Eradication of the main pathogens isolated at baseline (Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus) was comparable in the azithromycin, erythromycin and amoxycillin treatment groups. Efficacy was not affected by the presence or absence of underlying pulmonary disease. There were no major abnormalities in laboratory safety parameters and adverse events, principally mild/moderate gastro-intestinal symptoms occurred in 5% or 15%, respectively, of azithromycin-treated patients compared with in 18% or 17%, respectively, of those receiving erythromycin or amoxycillin. It is concluded that azithromycin was as effective and better tolerated than erythromycin or amoxycillin.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Amoxicillin / administration & dosage
  • Amoxicillin / therapeutic use*
  • Azithromycin
  • Bacterial Infections / drug therapy*
  • Bronchitis / drug therapy
  • Bronchitis / microbiology
  • Erythromycin / administration & dosage
  • Erythromycin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Erythromycin / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Haemophilus Infections / drug therapy
  • Haemophilus Infections / microbiology
  • Haemophilus influenzae / drug effects
  • Haemophilus influenzae / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pneumococcal Infections / drug therapy
  • Pneumococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Pneumonia / drug therapy
  • Pneumonia / microbiology
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / drug therapy*
  • Staphylococcal Infections / drug therapy
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects
  • Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae / drug effects
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae / isolation & purification

Substances

  • Erythromycin
  • Amoxicillin
  • Azithromycin