Cefaclor in treatment of secondary lower respiratory tract infections in chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases

AIM: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of cefaclor in treatment of secondary lower respiratory tract infections in chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases(COPD). METHODS: Multicenter open clinical trial was conducted. One hundred and eighty patients (M 118,F 62; 64 a± s 15 a) with secondary lower respiratory tract infections in COPD were enrolled into this study. Cefaclor,250 mg, po , tid, was administered orally for 7 14 d. The clinical efficacy, bacteriological response and adverse reactions were observed. RESULTS: Total effective rate was 91.1 % (164/180 including cured 86,significant improvement 78, improvement 13, failure 3). Ninety two strains of bacteria were isolated from expectorated sputum culture in 180 patients, including 29 strains of gram positive cocci and 63 trains of gram negative bacilli. The sensitive rate and eradication rate of cefaclor to the whole isolated organisms were 70 % ( 64/ 92) and 68 % (63/92)respectively, however, the sensitive rate and eradication rate of cefaclor to the organisms within cefaclor's antibacterial spectrum were 97 % and 94 % respectively. The total adverse reaction rate was 3.9 % (7/180). There was no abnormal change in renal and hepatic function induced by cefaclor through laboratory test comparison before and after cefaclor therapy in 53 patients. CONCLUSION: Cefaclor is still a very effective and safe antibiotic for secondary mild and moderate lower respiratory tract infections of COPD.