The clinical efficacy and safety of bacampicillin twice daily in comparative studies

In 16 controlled, randomized, comparative studies a total of 953 patients were treated for urinary tract infection, sinusitis, otitis media or chronic bronchitis. The aim was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of bacampicillin in a twice daily dosage, compared with three times daily dosages of bacampicillin, ampicillin, amoxycillin and a twice daily dosage of co-trimoxazole. Bacampicillin was given in amounts of either 400 or 800 mg to 422 of the patients in these studies. The twice daily dosage of bacampicillin eradicated 89% of the causative bacteria of urinary tract infections compared to 86% with the other regimens. In acute sinusitis 92% and 96% of the patients were either cured or improved when treated with 400 and 800 mg bacampicillin twice daily respectively. Similar percentages occurred in the groups given the three times daily dosages. In exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, 800 mg bacampicillin twice daily was the minimum effective dosage and 84% of the patients were either cured or improved with this regimen. Adverse drug reactions due to bacampicillin at all dose levels were less frequent than those of other anti-microbials. The lowest frequency of diarrhoea, 2.4%, was seen in the group given 400 mg bacampicillin twice daily. Dosages of 400 or 800 mg bacampicillin twice daily had a reliable efficacy combined with a low frequency of adverse reactions in respiratory and urinary tract infections.