Loracarbef (LY163892) versus cefaclor in the treatment of acute bacterial bronchitis

In this double-blind study, 319 patients (133 men, 186 women) with acute bronchitis were randomly assigned to receive 200 mg of loracarbef twice daily (n = 160; mean age, 42 years) or 250 mg of cefaclor thrice daily (n = 159; mean age, 43 years) for seven days. Clinical and bacteriologic responses were assessed in 63 loracarbef-treated and 56 cefaclor-treated patients in whom pretreatment positive cultures of pathogens susceptible to loracarbef and cefaclor were found. Among these evaluable patients, a clinical cure was found in 68.3% of the loracarbef-treated patients and in 66.1% of the cefaclor-treated patients and improvement in 27.0% and 28.6%, respectively; the pathogen was eliminated in 7.9% and 10.7% and presumed eliminated in 82.5% and 82.1%, respectively. Three in the loracarbef group discontinued treatment because of adverse events, two of which (nausea, nausea/diarrhea/vomiting) were presumably related to the drug. Headache was reported by 9.4% of the 160 patients in the loracarbef group and 6.9% of the 159 patients in the cefaclor group; diarrhea by 5.6% and 6.9%, respectively; and dyspepsia/abdominal pain/gastrointestinal disorders by 5.6% and 4.4%, respectively. It is concluded that both loracarbef and cefaclor are safe and effective in the treatment of acute bacterial bronchitis.