Clarithromycin versus cefaclor in lower respiratory tract infections. The Canadian Bronchitis Study Group

Clin Invest Med. 1995 Apr;18(2):131-8.

Abstract

A randomized study was done to compare the efficacy of clarithromycin 250 mg or 500 mg b.i.d., vs. cefaclor 250 mg or 500 mg t.i.d. for 7-14 d in 197 evaluable patients with lower respiratory tract infection. Ninety-five patients received clarithromycin, 88 with acute bronchitis or exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, and 7 with pneumonia. One hundred and two patients received cefaclor, 86 with bronchitis and 16 with pneumonia. Ten patients (10.5%) in the clarithromycin group did not complete the trial, 5 (5.3%) because of adverse event, and 3 (3.2%) because of clinical failure. Similarly, 11 patients (10.8%) did not complete cefaclor, 2 (2%) because of adverse event, and 7 (6.9%) because of clinical failure. Clinical cure or improvement was observed in 90 (94.7%) of patients on clarithromycin vs. 92 (90.2%) on cefaclor, p = 0.66. Bacteriologic cure was seen in 26/36 patients (72.2%) on clarithromycin vs. 28/40 patients (70%) on cefaclor, p = 0.28. Clarithromycin is just as effective as cefaclor for lower respiratory tract infections and is well tolerated.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bronchitis / drug therapy*
  • Bronchitis / microbiology
  • Cefaclor / adverse effects
  • Cefaclor / therapeutic use*
  • Clarithromycin / adverse effects
  • Clarithromycin / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Haemophilus influenzae / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Lung Diseases, Obstructive / drug therapy*
  • Lung Diseases, Obstructive / microbiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pneumonia / drug therapy*
  • Pneumonia / microbiology
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae / drug effects

Substances

  • Cefaclor
  • Clarithromycin