Skip to main content
Log in

Efficacy of twice-daily dosing of amoxycillin/clavulanate in acute otitis media in children

  • Originalia
  • Published:
Infection Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Children with acute otitis media (AOM), aged 2–12 years, were randomised to 10 days treatment with amoxycillin/clavulanate (A/C) 70/10 mg/kg/day given b.i.d. (231 patients) or to A/C 60/15 mg/kg/day given t.i.d. (232 patients). Clinical success rates at end of therapy (10–17 days) were 91.8% for the b.i.d. group and 90.5% for the t.i.d. group and at follow-up (28–42 days) were 80.1% for the b.i.d. group and 77.6% for the t.i.d. group, indicating that the b.i.d. regimen was as effective as the t.i.d. regimen. There was no statistically significant difference in incidence of adverse experiences between the two groups. The overall incidence of protocol defined diarrhoea assessed from diary booklets was low, with a lower incidence in the b.i.d. group (6.7%) than in the t.i.d. group (10.3%). Significantly more patients in the b.i.d. group (83.1%) than in the t.i.d. group (72.8%) had at least 80% compliance over a 7–10 day treatment period. A/C given twice or three-times daily was highly effective in the treatment of AOM in children. The two regimens showed equivalent clinical efficacy, both were well tolerated, and there was evidence of improved compliance with the b.i.d. regimen.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Teele, D. W., Klein, J. O., Rosner, B. A. Epidemiology of otitis media in children. Ann. Otol. Rhinol. Laryngol. Suppl. 68 (1980) 85–89.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bluestone, C. D., Stephenson, J. S., Martin, L. M. Ten year review of otitis media pathogens. Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. 11 (1992) S7-S11.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Slocombe, B., Beale, A., Boon, R., Griffin, K., Masters, P. J., Sutherland, R., White, A.: Antibacterial activityin vitro andin vivo of amoxycillin in the presence of clavulanate. Postgrad. Med., Suppl. CPPL Sept.–Oct. (1984) 29–43.

  4. Marchant, C. D. A randomised controlled trial of amoxycillin plus clavulanate compared with cefaclor for the treatment of acute otitis media. J. Pediatr. 109 (1986) 891–896.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Berry, V., Bryant, J., Woodnutt, G.: Efficacy of amoxycillin/clavulanate b.i.d. in comparison with oral cephalosporins against experimental infections in rats. 6th International Congress for Infectious Diseases, Prague (1994), abstr. 164.

  6. Woodnutt, G., Larque, E., Berry, V., Wells, J.: Efficacy of simulated human serum concentrations of amoxycillin and clavulanic acid against anHaemophilus influenzae respiratory tract infection — comparison with cefaclor and cefuroxime. 18th International Congress of Chemotherapy, Stockholm (1993), abstr. 371.

  7. Calver, A., Walsh, N., Quinn, P.: Amoxycillin/clavulanate (A/C) BID vs A/C TID in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI). 19th International Congress of Chemotherapy, Montreal (1995), abstr. 0338.

  8. McLaren, G., Macleod, R. J., Elliott, M. J. A comparison of the efficacy and tolerability of Augmentin 625 mg po bd versus Augmentin 375 mg po tds in the treatment of acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. Br. J. Clin. Res. 5 (1994) 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  9. McLinn, S. E., Moskal, M., Goldfarb, J., Bodor, F., Aronovitz, G., Schwartz, R., Self, P., Ossi, M. J. Comparison of cefuroxime axetil and amoxycillin clavulanate suspensions in treatment of acute otitis media with effusion in children. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 38 (1994) 315–318.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. McCarty, J. M., Phillips, A., Wiisanen, R. Comparative safety and efficacy of clarithromycin and amoxycillin/clavulanate in the treatment of acute otitis media in children. Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. 12 (1993) S122–127.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Wilson, W. R. Tolerance and safety of orally administered antimicrobial agents: an important factor in the selection of drug therapy. Curr. Ther. Res. 55 (Suppl. A) (1994) 49–56.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Schaad, U. B. Multicentre evaluation of azithromycin in comparison with co-amoxiclav for the treatment of acute otitis media in children. J. Antimicrob. Chemother. 31 (Suppl. E) (1993) 81–88.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Sunderland, R., McVey, D. L., Atkin, K. J. Cefixime versus co-amoxiclav in the treatment of pediatric upper respiratory tract infections and otitis media. Curr. Ther. Res. 55 (Suppl. A) (1994) 22–29.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Grob, P. R. Antibiotic prescribing practices and patient compliance in the community. Scand. J. Infect. Dis. 83 (1992) 7–14.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Urquhart, J. Ascertaining how much compliance is enough with out-patient antibiotic regimens. Postgrad. Med. J. 68 (Suppl. 3) (1992) S49–58.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Behre, U., Burrow, H.M., Quinn, P. et al. Efficacy of twice-daily dosing of amoxycillin/clavulanate in acute otitis media in children. Infection 25, 163–166 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02113605

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02113605

Keywords

Navigation