In this study the efficacy of
bacampicillin and
amoxicillin in treatment of bacterial lower
respiratory tract infection were compared. Thirty-eight patients were treated with
bacampicillin (800 mg twice a day), and 39 were treated with
amoxicillin (500 mg three times a day). Conditions treated included
pneumonia, exacerbation of
chronic bronchitis, and
bronchiectasis. The two groups were roughly comparable in terms of demographic factors and clinical diagnosis. The most common pathogens were Streptococcus pneumoniae and Hemophilus influenzae; isolates of S. pneumoniae were somewhat more prevalent in the group treated with
bacampicillin. All patients in both groups were either cured or improved clinically. The offending pathogen was eliminated except for two strains of H. influenzae in the group treated with
amoxicillin. There were mild adverse effects, including two cases of
diarrhea, in four patients treated with
amoxicillin. Two patients treated with
bacampicillin had mild adverse effects; no
diarrhea was encountered. Minor abnormalities of laboratory test results that possibly were related to
therapy were encountered in eight of the patients treated with
bacampicillin and three of the patients treated with
amoxicillin.