[Comparative trial of 3-day azithromycin versus 10-day coamoxilav course efficacy in acute sinusitis]

To investigate the validity of a short-term course of azitromycin in acute sinusitis (AS). Comparison of clinical and bacteriological effects, tolerance of azitromycin and co-amoxiclav.

50 AS patients were given a single 500 mg daily dose of axitromycin for 3 days and 50 such patients received co-amoxiclav 625 mg 3 times a day for 10 days. The examination performed before the treatment, 72 hours, 10-12 and 26-30 days after its beginning assessed the presence of fever, head ache, pain at palpation at the site of the sinuses projection, nasal breathing and discharge. X-ray examination and microbiological analysis of the puncture biopsy from the nasal sinuses were conducted before treatment and on its day 10-12.

On the treatment hour 72 and day 10-12 azitromycin efficiency was significantly higher than that of co-amoxiclav. Recovery on the treatment day 10-12 was registered in 41(82%) and 26(52%) patients, improvement--in 6(12%) and 21(42%), no effect--in 3(6%) and 2(4%) patients, respectively, for azitromycin and co-amoxiklav. On the treatment days 26-30, 45 and 43 patients recovered, respectively. The causative agents were mainly S.aureus and Str.pyogenes. Eradication of the pathogens in response to azitromycin occurred in 29, to co-amoxiclav in 18 patients. The latter caused side effects more frequently.

Azitromycin vs. co-amoxiclav provides cure in acute sinusitis for a shorter time, is better tolerated and less toxic.