Brodimoprim, a new dehydrofolate
reductase inhibitor, was compared with
cephalexin in the treatment of patients with acute
sinusitis. A total of 49 patients were randomly assigned to receive either
brodimoprim 200-mg
tablets once a day (400 mg on the first day as a loading dose) or
cephalexin 500-mg
tablets three times a day for 8 to 12 days. Nearly all patients treated were judged clinically cured/improved; in fact, only one failure (in the
cephalexin group) was noted. In the 45 assessable patients, the time until disappearance of the symptoms and the
duration of treatment did not differ significantly between the two groups. A bacteriologic examination was performed in all patients at baseline as well as at the end of
therapy. Bacteriologic eradication was obtained in 88% of the patients treated with
brodimoprim and in 76% of those receiving
cephalexin. Both compounds were generally well tolerated (one patient in the
brodimoprim group complained of skin reactions). These results suggest that once-daily treatment with
brodimoprim represents safe and effective
therapy for adults with acute bacterial
sinusitis.