To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: ATS: Higher Rate of Improvement, Fewer Adverse Effects With Clarithromycin for Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Bronchitis URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/1FC1EA.htm Doctor's Guide May 23, 2001
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- May 23, 2001 -- Data from a study presented today at the 97th annual meeting of the American Thoracic Society show that patients who were treated with clarithromycin (Biaxin®, Abbott Laboratories) for an acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis (AECB), experienced a higher rate of improvement and fewer adverse events than patients who were treated with other leading antibiotics, including levofloxacin (Levaquin®, Johnson & Johnson) and cefuroxime axetil (Ceftin®, GlaxoSmithKline). "According to the study results, more patients with chronic bronchitis who were treated with clarithromycin improved compared to patients treated with the other antibiotics," said Lee R. Weiss, M.D., F.A.C.E.P., chairman, department of emergency medicine, Knox Community Hospital, Mount Vernon, Ohio, and lead investigator of the study. "Specifically, clarithromycin offers an important alternative in the treatment arsenal for patients with an acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, as it offers a higher cure rate and fewer side effects." A randomized, prospective, multi-center study of 283 patients, compared clarithromycin 500 mg BID, levofloxacin 500 mg QD, and cefuroxime axetil 250 mg BID in patients with AECB. Each drug was administered for 10 days. For six weeks prior to randomization, patients with suspected AECB completed a questionnaire designed to assess disease severity and antimicrobial treatment. Eligible patients were required to have chest radiographs negative for pneumonia or structural lung disease (other than chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Among the eligible patients, 97 were randomized to clarithromycin, 94 to levofloxacin, and 92 to cefuroxime axetil. No significant difference was observed in disease between any groups at the start of the study. Among evaluable patients, clinical cure/improvement was observed in 87.9 percent (80 of 91) of those treated with clarithromycin, 87.3 percent (76 of 87) of those treated with levofloxacin, and 79.7 percent (67 of 84) of those treated with cefuroxime axetil. Additionally, none of the patients (0 out of 91) treated with clarithromycin was hospitalized for antimicrobial treatment, compared to 3.4 percent (3 of 87) who were treated with levofloxacin, and 3.6 percent (3 of 84) who were treated with cefuroxime axetil. Overall, patients with AECB treated with clarithromycin 500 mg BID experienced a higher rate of clinical cure/improvement and lower rates of adverse events leading to treatment, withdrawal, and need for hospitalization as compared to those who received levofloxacin 500 mg QD and cefuroxime axetil 250 mg BID. In adult respiratory clinical trials, the most common adverse events experienced were nausea, abnormal taste, or diarrhea (three percent); dyspepsia, abdominal pain, or headache (two percent). Acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis (AECB) is the seventh most prevalent of all chronic conditions, affecting 14 million Americans each year. The majority of cases of AECB occur in Americans under aged 45, and more women contract the disease than men. AECB is one of the most common illnesses diagnosed by primary care physicians. It is characterized by the presence of mucus-producing cough and obstruction for at least three consecutive months a year for two successive years. Biaxin tablets are indicated for mild-to-moderate infections in adults for the treatment of pharyngitis/tonsillitis due to Streptococcus pyogenes; for the treatment of acute maxillary sinusitis due to Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, or Streptococcus pneumoniae; for the treatment of acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis caused by Haemophilus influenzae, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis; or Streptococcus pneumoniae; and for the treatment of pneumonia due to Haemophilus influenzae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, or Chlamydia pneumoniae. SOURCE: Knox Community Hospital --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.