[Treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. Multicenter, randomized comparative study of cefuroxime axetil versus ofloxacin]. / Behandlung akuter Exazerbationen chronischer Bronchitiden. Multizentrische, randomisierte Vergleichsprüfung von Cefuroxim-Axetil versus Ofloxacin.

ABSTRACT

128 Patients (45 female, 83 male) with acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis were treated with either cefuroxime axetil 2 x 500 mg/d (n = 65) or ofloxacin 2 x 200 mg/d for 7-8 days in a randomized controlled multicenter trial. From the respective groups, the results of 61 and 59 patients could be evaluated. Positive sputum tests were available in 85 cases (56 monoinfections, 29 mixed infections) prior to treatment. According to final clinical assessment, cure was achieved with cefuroxime axetil in 75%, but only in 50% with ofloxacin. The clinical efficacy of cefuroxime axetil was judged by the physicians to be more reliable than ofloxacin. The difference is statistically significant (p less than 0.05). Therapy with ofloxacin had to be terminated in 2 cases due to side effects. Altogether 4 adverse events were documented with ofloxacin. Compared with ofloxacin, cefuroxime axetil showed better efficacy and low risk of side effects.