Palatability comparison of oral potassium chloride solutions.

The palatability of various commercially available potassium chloride preparations was studies. Twenty potassium chloride samples were tested by 152 people from February 1975 to April 1975. Nine samples were placed into a "most preferred" group and divided into 36 possible pairs, each to be tested four times. Twenty-four volunteers tested six pairs of samples and chose the preferred sample in each pair. The three samples, which finished with the highest scores (K-Lyte/Cl Packets, Kato Powder Packets and Kaochlor 10%), although not significantly different from the rest of the subgroup of nine, were all highly flavored and among the most expensive. It is suggested that when selecting a potassium chloride preparation, cost, convenience, palatability, and most importantly, long-term compliance with the prescribed regimen, must be considered.

Gastrointestinal side effects of clindamycin and ampicillin therapy.

Hospitalized patients who received clindamycin or ampicillin were evaluated for gastrointestinal side effects for a period of up to six weeks after therapy was discontinued. Of 104 patients receiving clindamycin therapy, 31 (29.8%) developed diarrhea, and two (1.9%) developed pseudomembranous colitis (PMC). Of 138 patients receiving ampicillin, 24 (17.3%) developed diarrhea, and one (0.7%) developed PMC. Diarrhea persisting for three days or more was noted in 13 (12.5%) of the patients receiving clindamycin and in seven (5.1%) of those receiving ampicillin. The tendency to develop diarrhea was positively correlated with serious illness, abdominal or pelvic sepsis, and total dosage of clindamycin. Examination of stools from a patient with PMC that was associated with clindamycin therapy showed a decrease in the number of anaerobic bacteria from the numbers found in stool cultures of normal controls. Those patients who did not develop diarrhea also had fewer anaerobic bacteria and coliform organisms. Lymphocytes from the patient with PMC were hyporeactive to phytohemagglutinin and hyperreactive to clindamycin.