ACUTE EXACERBATION OF CHRONIC-BRONCHITIS - CEFUROXIME IM, FOLLOWED BYCEFUROXIME AXETIL VERSUS CEFTRIAXONE IM

A total of 110 adult community patients with acute exacerbation of chr onic bronchitis randomly received either a 4-day course of cefuroxime injection (58 patients, 750 mg IM, bid) plus an 8-day course of cefuro xime axetil per os (250 mg, bid) or a 12-day course of ceftriaxone inj ection 1 000 mg IM, od (52 patients). Clinical success was defined by return to previous state at the end of treatment. The success rate rea ched 64 % in the cefuroxime group and 63 % in the ceftriaxone group. A t the end of treatment (D12), therapeutic strategies were statisticall y equivalent on secondary criteria based on eradication of infection s ymptoms, such as fever and purulence of the sputum. Respective clinica l success rates for simultaneous eradication of these symptoms were 52 (90 %) in the cefuroxime group, and 44 (85 %) in the ceftriaxone grou p. One month (D30), after the beginning of acute exacerbation, the evo lution was also favorable in the cefuroxime group (93 %), and in the c eftriaxone group (96 % - statistically equivalent). Drug related adver se events were reported in respectively 5 % and 10 % of the cefuroxime and ceftriaxone treated patient. The patients' quality of life improv ed with both antibiotherapy (without any statistical difference). The present study showed that a sequential therapy of a 4 day course of ce furoxime IM followed by an 8 day course of cefuroxime axetil per os, i s as effective and safe as a 12 day treatment with ceftriaxone IM in a dults with an acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis.