Cefpodoxime proxetil: dosage, efficacy and tolerance in adults suffering from respiratory tract infections

The efficacy of cefpodoxime proxetil has been studied in ten clinical trials conducted in adults suffering from lower respiratory tract infections (pneumonia, acute bronchitis or acute on chronic bronchitis) and upper respiratory tract infections (tonsillitis/pharyngitis or sinusitis). All the trials were controlled, randomized, multicentre and international and seven were double-blind, double-dummy designed. Over a period of 18 months from July 1988 to December 1989, 2448 patients were included. Among them, 2429 (99%) were evaluated for tolerance, 2101 (86%) for tolerance and clinical efficacy and 1018 (42%) for tolerance and clinical and bacteriological efficacy. The clinical response was judged satisfactory in 1205/1263 (95.4%) patients treated with cefpodoxime proxetil and in 788/838 (94%) patients treated with comparative antibiotics. The bacteriological response was judged satisfactory for 662/699 (95%) pathogens for cefpodoxime proxetil treatment versus 427/463 (92, 2%) for comparators. Cefpodoxime proxetil has been given to 7351 patients in the course of its international development with no severe side-effect being observed. Common reactions have been noted with a similar frequency to that seen with the other beta-lactams. No pseudomembranous colitis has been observed during clinical trials. On this basis, cefpodoxime proxetil appears to be efficacious and well tolerated and could be an antibiotic of first choice in the treatment of lower and upper respiratory tract infections in adults and adolescents.