Young children contract as many as six to eight upper respiratory tract
viral infections per year, and these
infections frequently lead to secondary
bacterial infections such as acute
otitis media and
sinusitis.
Cefprozil is an orally active
third generation cephalosporin which has demonstrated activity against the gram-positive organisms Streptococcus pyogenes, pneumoniae and agalactiae and against methicilin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus.
Cefprozil is also active against various gram-ves and certain anaerobic organisms, and is stable to hydrolysis by a number of b-lactamases. Present study is an effort to study the efficacy and safety of
cefprozil in children with acute
otitis media. Three hundred and thirty four children aged 6 months through 12 years with clinical symptoms and tympanic membrane signs of AOM received
cefprozil 30 mg/kg/day in two divided doses per day for 10 days. Clinically, 96.6% patients were cured, 2.4% improved and there was failure of
therapy in 1% of the patients. There was no need for any rescue medication and any change in
antibiotic in any patient. A satisfactory bacteriological outcome was (i.e. cure, presumed cure, and cure plus
reinfection with a different pathogen) was achieved in 95% of patients. In conclusion,
cefprozil is a well tolerated and effective
drug for acute
otitis media in children. Moreover, its expanded spectrum of activity, ability to achieve adequate concentrations in tissues, suitability for twice-daily dosing, and proven tolerability suggest that it is a better alternative to agents conventionally used in acute
otitis media.