AN EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY OF CEFIXIME IN THE TREATMENT OF STREPTOCOCCUS-PNEUMONIAE OTITIS-MEDIA

Previous studies using the chinchilla animal model demonstrated that t he third generation cephalosporin cefixime (Suprax(R)) with split dosi ng was as effective as ampicillin in sterilizing the middle ear cleft when infected with S. pneumoniae. In this investigator-blinded, random ized trial, a single daily dose of cefixime (8 mg/kg per day) performe d as well as split dosing of cefixime (8 mg/kg every 8 h) and ampicill in (150 mg/kg every 8 h) in the time to sterilization of the middle ea r cleft. No statistically significant differences were noted between g roups in otoscopy or tympanometry. All antibiotic regimens performed b etter than saline control (P < 0.0001) with regard to time to steriliz ation of the middle ear cleft. The results of this study support the d aily administration of cefixime as an effective agent for the treatmen t of otitis media due to its extended half-life and broad antibiotic s pectrum.