EFFECTS OF CEFIXIME OR CO-AMOXICLAV TREATMENT ON NASOPHARYNGEAL CARRIAGE OF STREPTOCOCCUS-PNEUMONIAE AND HAEMOPHILUS-INFLUENZAE IN CHILDRENWITH ACUTE OTITIS-MEDIA

A multicentre, open-label, randomized study was performed in 501 out-p atients with acute otitis media, aged 6-36 months, to study the impact of treatment with either cefixime suspension 8 mg/kg/day bd or co-amo xiclav suspension 80 mg/kg/day tds for 10 days on nasopharyngeal carri age of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae. Of 426 pat ients with nasopharyngeal cultures at entry to the trial, end of treat ment and at follow-up visit (35 days after inclusion), significant cha nges in carriage of S. pneumoniae were observed. The proportion of pen icillin-resistant S. pneumoniae was higher in the samples taken at the end of treatment and follow-up than in those taken at inclusion, whil e the total number of children with this microorganism was lower. The difference at the end of treatment was greater with co-amoxiclav than with cefixime. For H. influenzae the resistance rate remained steady w hile the number of children with this microorganism decreased. At foll owup there was no significant difference between the two groups in ter ms of nasopharyngeal positive culture for S. pneumoniae or H. influenz ae. Despite these differences, successful clinical responses were simi lar at the end of treatment and at follow-up.