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A Robust Pneumonia Model in Immunocompetent Rodents to Evaluate Antibacterial Efficacy against S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa or A. baumannii
09:17

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Azithromycin versus ceftriaxone for the treatment of uncomplicated typhoid fever in children

R W Frenck1, I Nakhla, Y Sultan

  • 1US Naval Medical Research Unit #3, Cairo, Egypt. FrenckR@namru3.med.navy.mil

Clinical Infectious Diseases : an Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
|November 14, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Azithromycin and ceftriaxone are effective treatments for uncomplicated typhoid fever in children. Azithromycin offers a convenient oral alternative, particularly for resource-limited settings.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Antimicrobial Therapy

Background:

  • Typhoid fever remains a significant public health concern, particularly in developing countries.
  • Effective and convenient treatment options for pediatric typhoid fever are crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the efficacy of oral azithromycin versus intravenous ceftriaxone for treating uncomplicated typhoid fever in children.
  • To evaluate azithromycin as a potential alternative treatment for pediatric typhoid fever.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized trial involving 108 children aged 4-17 years with uncomplicated typhoid fever.
  • Participants received either azithromycin (10 mg/kg/day) or ceftriaxone (75 mg/kg/day) for 7 days.
  • Salmonella typhi isolates were tested for susceptibility to both antibiotics.

Main Results:

  • High cure rates were observed for both azithromycin (91%) and ceftriaxone (97%) groups, with no statistically significant difference (P>.05).
  • All Salmonella typhi isolates were susceptible to both azithromycin and ceftriaxone.
  • Four patients in the ceftriaxone group experienced relapse; no serious side effects were reported for either treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Oral azithromycin is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for uncomplicated typhoid fever in children.
  • Azithromycin presents a promising, convenient alternative to ceftriaxone, especially in areas with limited medical resources.

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