Gemifloxacin versus amoxicillin/clavulanate in the treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis

Six hundred patients were evaluated in this randomized, double-blind, doubl e-dummy, multicenter, parallel-group study comparing the efficacy and safet y of gemifloxacin (320 mg once-daily for 5 days) and amoxicillin/clavulanat e (500/125 mg three-times daily for 7 days) for the treatment of acute exac erbations of chronic bronchitis (AECB). Of note, more than 90% of study par ticipants had stage 2 disease at study entry, The two drugs were found to b e equally effective, with clinical success rates of 93.6% for gemifloxacin and 93.2% on amoxicillin/clavulanate (95% CI -3.9 to 4.6), Bacteriological success rates favored gemifloxacin (90.9% compared with 79.5% for amoxicill in/clavulanate; 95% CI -3.3 to 26.0); however, this difference was not stat istically significant. Gemifloxacin and amoxicillin/clavulanate were both w ell tolerated. In summary, gemifloxacin was found to be well tolerated and effective for the treatment of AECB, suggesting it is well suited for empir ical treatment of this common respiratory condition in the current clinical environment.