AZITHROMYCIN VERSUS CLARITHROMYCIN IN THE TREATMENT OF ACUTE EXACERBATIONS OF CHRONIC-BRONCHITIS

The patients, 206 adults with acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, were randomly assigned to receive 500 mg of azithromycin once daily for 3 days (n = 102) or 250 mg of clarithromycin twice daily for 7 days (n = 104). On days 4 and 8 after the start of treatment, patients receiving azithromycin showed significantly fewer signs and symptoms of bronchitis and on day 4 significantly more were rated as clinically improved than the patients in the clarithromycin group. Significantly more pathogens were eradicated in azithromycin-treated patients (93%) than in clarithromycin-treated patients (75%). Side effects were reported by four patients in the azithromycin group (abdominal pain, erythema, and diarrhea) and by none of the clarithromycin-treated patients. It is concluded that azithromycin is more effective than clarithromycin in the treatment of acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis.