[Comparative study of cefixime versus amoxicillin-clavulanic acid combination in the oral treatment of urinary tract infections in children]. / Etude comparant le céfixime à l'association amoxicilline-acide clavulanique dans le traitement par voie orale des infections urinaires de l'enfant.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Acute febrile infections suggestive of pyelonephritis require treatment by broad-spectrum antibiotics capable of reaching significant tissue levels. This study compares efficacy and safety of cefixime with amoxycillin + clavulanic acid in urinary tract infections. POPULATION AND METHODS: Fifty seven children aged 5 months to 14 years treated for urinary tract infection in ten pediatric centres for a period of 10 months had been randomly included in the study. Thirty (22 girls and eight boys) were given cefixime and 27 (24 girls and three boys) amoxycillin-clavulanate. Efficacy was evaluated in only 36 patients whose bacteria were susceptible to both antibiotics (26 pyelonephritis and ten cystitis). RESULTS: Sixteen patients out of the 19 given cefixime recovered vs. 14 out of the 17 given amoxycillin-clavulanate with no significant difference between both groups. Bacteria were more often susceptible to cefixime (100% of cases) than to amoxycillin-clavulanate (69%) (p < or = 0.0001). Safety was good and comparable in both groups. CONCLUSION: Cefixime given per os seems effective and safe in treating urinary tract infections. These results have to be confirmed by further studies.