Treatment of exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. A comparative double-blind study with cotrimoxazole and cefadroxil

A double-blind, randomized study was carried out in 40 chronic bronchitic patients, to evaluate the effectiveness of cefadroxil as compared with cotrimoxazole in the treatment of the exacerbation stage. The patients were in hospital while the study lasted and received cotrimoxazole at doses of 160 mg of trimethoprim and 800 mg of sulfamethoxazole twice a day, or cefadroxil 500 mg twice a day, for seven days. To evaluate the response the following parameters were used: clinical improvement, reduction in volume of sputum, reduction in purulence of the sputum and eradication of germs from the sputum. All the parameters improved in both groups of patients without any significant difference between the two types of treatment.