sultamicillin and Lung-Diseases--Obstructive

Acute exacerbations, most of which are due to lower respiratory tract infections, cause great morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and most of these are due to lower respiratory tract infections. The aim of this study was to determine the causative organism and the effects of azithromycin, ampicillin sulbactam (sultamicillin), ciprofloxacin and cefaclor monohydrate therapy in COPD. One hundred and six patients with COPD in acute exacerbation were randomized into four groups for empiric antibiotic treatment following lung function tests and sputum examination. The most common strains isolated from sputum were Haemophilus influenzae (30.8%), Streptoccocus pneumoniae (12%) and Moraxella catarrhalis (7.7%). Azithromycin, sultamicillin, ciprofloxacin and cefaclor monohydrate were found to be effective in treating COPD exacerbations.

Topics: Ampicillin; Anti-Infective Agents; Azithromycin; Cefaclor; Ciprofloxacin; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Male; Middle Aged; Sulbactam; Treatment Outcome

Haemophilus influenzae is a frequent cause of recurrent or chronic lower respiratory tract infections in patients suffering from cystic fibrosis (CF) and other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Ampicillin and its derivatives are routinely used in treatment, but resistant strains producing beta-lactamase frequently necessitate the use of other antibiotics. Sultamicillin is a compound agent for oral use in which ampicillin and the beta-lactamase inhibitor sulbactam are linked as a double ester. This combination is active in vitro against many beta-lactamase producing bacteria including ampicillin-resistant H. influenzae. Eight CF children and ten children with other COPD suffering from chronic or recurrent H. influenzae infection of the lower respiratory tract were treated with sultamicillin orally, 25 mg/kg, 12-hourly, for two weeks. Nine infections were caused by ampicillin-resistant strains. At the end of the treatment 65% of the patients were free of H. influenzae. The only adverse reaction was diarrhoea which occurred in 14 patients, and necessitated withdrawal of one patient from the study.

Topics: Adolescent; Ampicillin; Child; Child, Preschool; Cystic Fibrosis; Diarrhea; Drug Combinations; Female; Haemophilus Infections; Haemophilus influenzae; Humans; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Male; Penicillanic Acid; Pneumonia; Sulbactam