Broad or Narrow Spectrum Therapy?: Studies with Ampicillin and Azidocillin in Acute Chest Infections

Abstract

In a small double blind trial the clinical, pharmacological and microbiological effects of ampicillin and azidocillin were compared during the oral therapy of acute chest infections. There were no major differences in the clinical responses but in general higher serum levels of ampicillin were achieved. This did not lead to higher concentrations of ampicillin in the sputum. During treatment with both antibiotics, changes were noticed in the antibiogram of the predominating faecal coliform organisms. Azidocillin appeared to provoke such changes more frequently. In the light of these observations the properties required by drugs for the therapy of chest infections have been discussed.