A DOUBLE-BLIND COMPARISON OF LOW-DOSE OFLOXACIN AND AMOXYCILLIN CLAVULANIC ACID IN ACUTE EXACERBATIONS OF CHRONIC-BRONCHITIS

The efficacy and safety of ofloxadn 400 mg once daily and amoxycillin/clavulanic acid 500/125 mg three times daily were compared in a double-blind manner in patients with an acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis. Of 102 patients enrolled, 95 (93%) could be assessed for effectiveness. Treatment success was achieved in 41 (84%) of 49 patients in the ofloxadn group compared with 41 (89%) of 46 patients in the amoxycillin/clavulanic add group. One patient who received ofloxadn and four patients in the amoxydllin/davulanic add group stopped medication because of unacceptable side effects. Microbiological results were evaluable in 47% of the patients. Predominant initial pathogens were Haemophilia influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, sometimes in combination, and less frequently Branhamella catarrhalis. In two patients with clinical failure, randomized to ofloxadn, the initial pneumccoccal strains persisted in the sputum after treatment. © 1990 The British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.