ly-163892 and Otitis-Media-with-Effusion

Two multicenter, randomized, single-masked, parallel-group studies compared loracarbef and clarithromycin with regard to efficacy, tolerability, and patient acceptance. Three hundred thirty-four children aged 6 months to 3 years with acute otitis media with effusion received loracarbef (15 mg/kg) or clarithromycin (7.5 mg/kg) orally twice daily for 10 days. Patients were assessed for the presence of the diagnostic signs and symptoms of otitis media with effusion by physical examination and pneumatic otoscopy at 48 hours pretreatment, 3 to 5 days after initiation of treatment, 0 to 3 days after the final dose (posttreatment), and 14 to 21 days later (termination). Symptoms were assigned numeric values. Symptomatic response was assessed at the posttherapy and termination visits. Tolerability was determined by assessing adverse events, and a patient acceptance survey was completed by each patient's caregiver. The combined results of these 2 studies showed that the efficacy and tolerability of loracarbef were comparable to those of clarithromycin. Adverse events were reported by 46.4% of loracarbef patients and 41.0% of clarithromycin patients, with no statistically significant difference between groups. In the intent-to-treat analysis, 57.9% of loracarbef patients were cured at the termination of the study, compared with 55.7% of clarithromycin patients. Improvement was seen in 4.1% of loracarbef patients and 2.7% of clarithromycin patients. Results of the patient acceptance survey showed a clear preference for loracarbef over clarithromycin. Difficulties with administration of treatment were reported by 36.3% of clarithromycin caregivers, compared with 7.8% of loracarbef caregivers (P < 0.001). A desire to stop treatment was reported by 23.8% of clarithromycin caregivers, compared with 7.8% of loracarbef caregivers (P < 0.001). Taste and texture issues were most frequently cited as reasons for nonacceptance.

Topics: Acute Disease; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cephalosporins; Child, Preschool; Clarithromycin; Humans; Infant; Otitis Media with Effusion; Single-Blind Method; Treatment Outcome

The efficacy and safety of loracarbef, a new beta-lactam antibiotic, was compared with that of amoxicillin-clavulanate potassium in the treatment of bacterial acute otitis media with effusion. A double-blind format was utilized to administer 10-day, randomized, parallel treatment regimens to patients who were between 6 months and 12 years of age. The most prevalent causative pathogens found in the two treatment groups were Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis. The percentages of favorable posttherapy clinical responses in evaluable patients were similar for both drugs: 87.3% (124/142) of the loracarbef group, compared with 91.5% (130/142) of the amoxicillin-clavulanate group, showed favorable responses within 72 hours after treatment. Ten to sixteen days after treatment, 68.1% of the loracarbef group, compared with 76.1% of the amoxicillin-clavulanate group, showed favorable responses. More patients in the amoxicillin-clavulanate group reported treatment-emergent events: 46.1% compared with 35.8% in the loracarbef group (p = 0.023). Diarrhea was the most frequently reported event, occurring in 13.3% of the loracarbef group and in 26.3% of the amoxicillin-clavulanate group (p less than 0.001). Vomiting was reported by 5.8% of the loracarbef group and 10.3% of the amoxicillin-clavulanate group (p = 0.072). Loracarbef is comparable in efficacy to amoxicillin-clavulanate in the treatment of bacterial acute otitis media with effusion and has a more desirable safety profile.

Topics: Amoxicillin; Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; Bacterial Infections; Cephalosporins; Clavulanic Acids; Double-Blind Method; Drug Evaluation; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Haemophilus influenzae; Humans; Infant; Male; Moraxella catarrhalis; Otitis Media with Effusion; Streptococcus pneumoniae