FLURITHROMYCIN ETHYLSUCCINATE IN THE TREATMENT OF LOWER RESPIRATORY-TRACT BACTERIAL-INFECTIONS

Efficacy and tolerability of flurithromycin ethylsuccinate were evalua ted in lower respiratory tract infections. One hundred and ten patient s (38 women, 72 men; age range 18-87 years) were treates with on 375 m g tablet 12-hourly for a mean duration of 8.7 days. One hundred and fi ve patients were evaluable for efficacy. Overall clinical cure rate wa s 62.9%;, improvement was recorded in 19% of patients for a total sati sfactory clinical response rate of 81.9%. Sputum production decreased in most patients, being absent after treatment in 47% (only one patien t was negative at baseline); sputum was purulent or mucopurulent in 80 % of subjects before and in 20% after treatment. Bacteriological evalu ation was possible in 72 patients: pathogen eradication was achieved i n 80.2% of cases. Eight patients out of 110 reported adverse reactions , mainly gastrointestinal; in one case treatment had to be discontinue d. These results demonstrate that flurithromycin ethylsuccinate is saf e and effective in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections .