Efficacy and safety of ciprofloxacin in patients with respiratory infections in comparison with amoxycillin

Ciprofloxacin and amoxycillin were compared in the treatment of respiratory infections (pneumonia, acute bronchitis, exacerbation of chronic lung disease) in a study of 48 patients randomly assigned to ten days treatment with standard doses of either drug. Forty-eight patients were evaluated, 26 in the ciprofloxacin group and 22 in the amoxycillin group. The response to therapy was judged by clinical and bacteriological criteria. Ciprofloxacin was as effective as amoxycillin with a successful outcome in 81% and 82% of cases respectively. A specific bacterial cause was determined in just over half the cases (28 patients) and eradication rates were higher for ciprofloxacin than for amoxycillin, 87% and 64% respectively. In particular, amoxycillin was unsuccessful in two patients infected with Branhamella catarrhalis. Both regimens were safe and produced little, if any, adverse effect (one possible episode in each treatment group). Ciprofloxacin was found to be as effective in bacterial respiratory tract infections as amoxycillin.