Efficacy and tolerance of roxithromycin in comparison with erythromycin stearate in patients with lower respiratory tract infections.

O Paulsen, B A Christensson, M Hebelka, B Ljungberg, I Nilsson-Ehle, L Nyman, R Svensson, P Tüll, Z Varga

Index: Scand. J. Infect. Dis. 24(2) , 219-25, (1992)

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Abstract

The efficacy and tolerance of roxithromycin 150 mg b.i.d. were compared with those of erythromycin stearate 500 mg b.i.d. in patients with lower respiratory tract infections. Out of 86 patients recruited for the study, 79 were evaluable for tolerance and 76 for efficacy. These patients were evenly distributed among the 3 investigational clinics, with 26, 25 and 28 patients, respectively. The diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infections was based on clinical, laboratory, radiological and/or physical findings and, when available, bacteriological and serological findings. The duration of treatment was 10 days, with follow-up at post-treatment visits directly after treatment and 6 weeks thereafter. The clinical outcome was satisfactory with no significant difference between the drugs. More patients reporting adverse events were on erythromycin than on roxithromycin (51.3% vs 17.5%; p = 0.003). The results suggest that roxithromycin is as effective as erythromycin stearate in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections and causes fewer adverse effects.