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Cefetamet pivoxil in paediatric patients suffering from lower respiratory tract infections
M Gatzola-Karaveli1, N Vogiatzis, I Rousso
1AHEPA University Hospital, Department of Paediatric Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Insights
Cefetamet pivoxil effectively treated lower respiratory tract infections in children, showing better outcomes than cefaclor. This antibiotic is a promising option for pediatric pneumonia.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Background:
- Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) are common in children.
- Antibiotic resistance necessitates evaluating alternative treatments for pediatric LRTI.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy and safety of cefetamet pivoxil versus cefaclor in treating pediatric lower respiratory tract infections.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, randomized comparative trial involving 31 children with LRTI.
- Children received either cefetamet pivoxil (20 or 40 mg/kg/day) or cefaclor (30 mg/kg/day) for 7 days.
Main Results:
- All patients receiving cefetamet pivoxil showed symptom resolution and normalized X-ray findings and leucocytosis.
- One child on cefaclor deteriorated from bronchopneumonia to pneumonitis.
- Vomiting led to treatment discontinuation in one patient on high-dose cefetamet pivoxil.
Conclusions:
- Cefetamet pivoxil demonstrated significant clinical efficacy in pediatric LRTI.
- Cefetamet pivoxil appears to be a safe and effective alternative to cefaclor for treating pediatric pneumonia.
Abstract:
A prospective, randomized comparative trial was carried out in 31 children suffering from lower respiratory tract infections, mainly bronchopneumonia or pneumonia. Twenty-one children received oral cefetamet pivoxil in a dose of 20 mg/kg/day (10 children) or 40 mg/kg/day (11 children), and 10 children 30 mg cefaclor/kg/day for 7 days. Clinical signs and symptoms, i.e. fever, dyspnoea, altered breath sounds and cough, subsided during treatment with both cefetamet pivoxil treatment doses in all patients. All X-ray findings and blood leucocytosis normalized, while 1 out of the 10 children to whom 30 mg cefaclor/kg/day was administered deteriorated from bronchopneumonia to pneumonitis during treatment. Treatment was stopped due to vomiting in 1 patient receiving the 40 mg cefetamet pivoxil/kg/day dose.
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