Antimicrobial therapy of travellers' diarrhoea

Two trials were carried out to evaluate antimicrobial agents in the therapy of travellers' diarrhoea. In the first, 72 students were given 500 mg bicozamycin (BI), a poorly absorbable drug, q.i.d. for three days and 68 were given a placebo. In the second, 37 students were given trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole (160 mg TMP-SMX 800 mg), 38 TMP (200 mg), and in 35 a placebo was given b.i.d. for five days. Diarrhoea lasted on average 28 hours in those receiving BI compared to 64 hours in the placebo group (p = 0.00009). Significant shortening of diarrhoea after taking BI was seen for all subjects with illness, as well as those with ETEC diarrhoea, shigellosis and for those with unknown causes of illness. A significant clinical response was also noted in all categories of diarrhoea for both TMP-SMX and TMP when compared to placebo group.