LORACARBEF (LY163892) VERSUS AMOXICILLIN-CLAVULANATE IN THE TREATMENT OF BACTERIAL ACUTE OTITIS-MEDIA WITH EFFUSION

The efficacy and safety of loracarbef, a new beta-lactam antibiotic, was compared with that of amoxicillin-clavulanate potassium in the treatment of bacterial acute otitis media with effusion. A double-blind format was utilized to administer 10-day, randomized, parallel treatment regimens to patients who were between 6 months and 12 years of age. The most prevalent causative pathogens found in the two treatment groups were Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis. The percentages of favorable posttherapy clinical responses in evaluable patients were similar for both drugs: 87.3% (124/142) of the loracarbef group, compared with 91.5% (130/142) of the amoxicillin-clavulanate group, showed favorable responses within 72 hours after treatment. Ten to sixteen days after treatment, 68.1% of the loracarbef group, compared with 76.1% of the amoxicillin-clavulanate group, showed favorable responses. More patients in the amoxicillin-clavulanate group reported treatment-emergent events: 46.1% compared with 35.8% in the loracarbef group (p = 0.023). Diarrhea was the most frequently reported event, occurring in 13.3% of the loracarbef group and in 26.3% of the amoxicillin-clavulanate group (p <0.001). Vomiting was reported by 5.8% of the loracarbef group and 10.3% of the amoxicillin-clavulanate group (p = 0.072). Loracarbef is comparable in efficacy to amoxicillin-clavulanate in the treatment of bacterial acute otitis media with effusion and has a more desirable safety profile.