Treatment of Acute Otitis Media with Azidocillin Administered Twice Daily

Abstract

The clinical effect of azidocillin was investigated in 450 patients with acute otitis media. The drug was administered for 10 days in the following doses: to adults and children over 8 years 1.5 g daily, and to smaller children 50–100 mg per kg body weight per day. These doses are higher than in previous studies. The azidocillin was given either twice or 4 times daily in random groups. An overall satisfactory effect was achieved in 91.3% of the cases with a 12-hourly dosage and in 92.6% of those with a 6- hourly dosage. All of the 50 patients with Haemophilus influenzae in pure culture recovered clinically on the treatment although H. influenzae was still cultured from the nasopharynx at follow-up visits in 52% and 26%, respectively. Patients with pneumococcal infections were more difficult to treat. From this study it would seem that the 12-hourly administration of azidocillin is clinically adequate in the treatment of acute otitis media with penicillin-sensitive bacteria including H. influenzae.