4 DAYS CEFIXIME, 10 DAYS CEFIXIME, OR 10 DAYS AMOXICILLIN-CLAVULANATE, FOR THE TREATMENT OF ACUTE SINUSITIS IN ADULTS

In order to assess the efficacy of short cefixime treatment in acute a dult sinusitis, a randomized multicenter trial was performed, comparin g cefixime at 400 mg/day b.i.d, for 4 days (CFM4) to 10 days (CFM10) i n double-blind, and amoxicillin-clavulanate (AAC) 1500 mg/day t.i.d. f or 10 days in open, A total of 253 patients were included with a diagn osis of acute sinusitis based on clinical symptoms and radiologic sign s, After analysing the intent-to-treat (n = 242), the 4 day course of cefixime (n = 80) was found to be at least as effective as the 10 day course of cefixime (n = 85) or amoxicillin-clavulanate (n = 77), The c linical response rates after the end of treatment (day 12) were 88% (C FM4), 91% (CFM10), and 94% (AAC), On day 33, a clinical and radiologic confirmation of satisfactory response was obtained in 88% in the CFM4 group compared to 88% and 85% respectively in CFM10 and AAC groups. T reatment induced side-effects occured in 7, 6, and 1 patients respecti vely in groups CFM4, AAC, and CFM10, The incidence of withdrawal due t o side-effects before the end of AAC, CFM4 or placebo treatment, was 4 ,9% (4/82) and 3,6% (3/84) respectively. The effectiveness of 4 days c efixime was equivalent to that of 10 days cefixime or 10 days amoxicil lin-clavulanate for the treatment of acute sinusitis in adults (Two on e-sided tests procedure).