Once-a-day therapy for sinusitis: a comparison study of cefixime and amoxicillin

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Pharmacology
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Sinusitis treatment often involves antibiotics with varying dosing schedules.
• Bacterial resistance, including beta-lactamase producing strains, poses a challenge in sinusitis management.
• Patient compliance with antibiotic regimens can impact treatment outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy and safety of once-daily cefixime with thrice-daily amoxicillin for sinusitis treatment.
• To evaluate the microbiological profile of sinusitis pathogens.
• To assess the potential benefits of once-daily antibiotic dosing for improved compliance.

Main Methods:

• A randomized clinical trial involving 114 patients with sinusitis.
• Treatment groups received either once-daily cefixime or thrice-daily amoxicillin.
• Patient evaluation included antral punctures, microbiologic cultures, and radiographic studies.

Main Results:

• Cure rates were high in both groups: 94% for cefixime and 96% for amoxicillin.
• Common pathogens included Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and viridans streptococci.
• Staphylococcus resistance was noted, occasionally requiring a switch to amoxicillin-clavulanate potassium.

Conclusions:

• Once-daily cefixime demonstrated comparable efficacy to thrice-daily amoxicillin in treating sinusitis.
• Once-daily antibiotic regimens hold promise for enhancing patient compliance.
• Cefixime's activity against beta-lactamase producing bacteria offers an advantage given increasing resistance patterns.