Azithromycin, erythromycin and cloxacillin in the treatment of infections of skin and associated soft tissues. European Azithromycin Study Group.
Author(s): Daniel R
Affiliation(s): Department of Clinical Research, Pfizer Central Research, Sandwich, UK.
Publication date & source: 1991-11, J Int Med Res., 19(6):433-45.
Publication type: Clinical Trial; Comparative Study ; Multicenter Study; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Azithromycin (total dose 1.5 g) given orally in five or six doses over 5 days was compared with erythromycin and cloxacillin both given orally as 500 mg four times daily for 7 days in two multicentre studies of patients with skin and associated soft-tissue infections. Azithromycin eradicated baseline pathogen(s), mainly Staphylococcus aureus, in 89% compared with in 78%, of erythromycin-treated patients (P = 0.501) and in 78% compared with in 59% of cloxacillin-treated patients (P = 0.421). No statistically significant difference in clinical cure was reported between azithromycin (74%) and erythromycin (75%, P = 1.00) and between azithromycin (60%) and cloxacillin (47%, P = 0.301) treatment groups. The side-effects reported for azithromycin were mainly mild or moderate gastro-intestinal complaints and there were no major abnormalities in laboratory parameters. It is concluded that azithromycin was as effective as, but better tolerated than, either erythromycin or cloxacillin and short-course therapy may improve patient compliance.
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