Efficacy and tolerance of cefpodoxime proxetil compared with co-amoxiclav in the treatment of exacerbations of chronic bronchitis

This European, multicentre trial evaluated the efficacy and tolerance of cefpodoxime proxetil in comparison with co-amoxiclav (amoxycillin plus clavulanic acid) in the treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. The study design was double-blind and double-placebo controlled. Doses of either 200 mg bd of cefpodoxime proxetil or 500 mg/125 mg tds amoxycillin plus clavulanic acid were given orally for 9.6 +/- 1.8 days. Two hundred and fifty-one patients were enrolled in 27 centres in West Germany, France, and Italy. The overall clinical efficacy was 97.2% in the cefpodoxime proxetil group compared with 94.7% in the co-amoxiclav group. Fifty-eight adverse events, mainly gastrointestinal, occurred in 42 patients with no significant difference between the groups. A significant difference in the number of resistant pathogens on pre-treatment culture to the advantage of cefpodoxime was noted. In our experience, both drugs were of similar value in the treatment of respiratory tract infections. Thus, cefpodoxime proxetil should be an effective antibiotic for the treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis.