Wg. Boersma et al., CLINICAL AND BACTERIOLOGICAL EFFICACY AND TOLERABILITY OF FCE-22891 IN PATIENTS WITH EXACERBATIONS OF CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY-DISEASE, Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy, 38(4), 1994, pp. 872-875
A beta-lactamase-stable antibiotic, the oral penem FCE 22891 (ritipene
m acoxil), was investigated for use in exacerbations of chronic obstru
ctive pulmonary disease (COPD). Thirteen of the 15 COPD patients had a
proven lower respiratory tract infection. Symptom scores and forced e
xpiratory volumes in 1 s significantly improved during therapy with FC
E 22891 in combination with bronchodilators and intravenous corticoste
roids. Conversion of representative sputum to nonrepresentative sputum
or eradication of the original pathogen in representative sputum was
effected in 12 patients. Resistance to FCE 22891 was observed in three
cases with Haemophilus influenzae. Gastrointestinal disturbances, of
which one was severe, were experienced by eight patients. Although FCE
22891 has some beneficial effect in exacerbations of COPD, there are
reservations about its use because of adverse effects and potential in
efficacy in the treatment of infection with H. influenzae.