SULTAMICILLIN (CP-49, 952) - EVALUATION OF 2 DOSAGE SCHEDULES IN URINARY-INFECTION

The results of a clinical trial of sultamicillin, a novel mutual pro-drug combination of ampicillin and the .beta.-lactamase inhibitor sulbactam, in ampicillin-resistant [bacterial] urinary tract infections are reported. The majority of infections treated occurred in elderly geriatric in-patients. Two dosage schedules were investigated, both resulting in the same total daily dosage (1500 mg sultamicillin). These were 750 mg sultamicillin, 12-hourly (weries 1) and 500 mg sultamicillin, 8-hourly (series II), each administered orally for 7 days. Short term cure rates (after exclusion of superinfections and reinfections) of 79.5% (series I) and 82% (series II) were obtained 1 wk after therapy , falling to 69 and 50%, respectively, at 3-6 wk follow up. Sultamicillin was well tolerated. Pharmacokinetic studies confirmed intestinal absorption of both constituents in young volunteers and in the elderly.