Prospective randomized comparative trial of pefloxacin versus cotrimoxazole in the treatment of typhoid fever in adults

• Published in: European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases 1988-06, Vol.7 (3), p.361-363
• Main Authors: Hajji, M, el Mdaghri, N, Benbachir, M, el Filali, K M, Himmich, H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Drug Combinations - pharmacology; Drug Combinations - therapeutic use; Female; Humans; Male; Norfloxacin - analogs & derivatives; Norfloxacin - pharmacology; Norfloxacin - therapeutic use; Paratyphoid Fever - drug therapy; Pefloxacin; Prospective Studies; Random Allocation; Salmonella paratyphi A - drug effects; Salmonella paratyphi A - isolation & purification; Salmonella paratyphi B - drug effects; Salmonella paratyphi B - isolation & purification; Salmonella typhi - drug effects; Salmonella typhi - isolation & purification; Sulfamethoxazole - pharmacology; Sulfamethoxazole - therapeutic use; Trimethoprim - pharmacology; Trimethoprim - therapeutic use; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination; Typhoid Fever - drug therapy
• ISSN: 0934-9723; 1435-4373
• DOI: 10.1007/BF01962337

Pefloxacin, which has been shown to have a high in vitro activity against Salmonella spp., was compared to cotrimoxazole in the treatment of typhoid fever in adults. In a prospective, randomized trial, 42 patients with bacteriologically documented typhoid fever received either 400 mg pefloxacin b.i.d. or 160/800 mg cotrimoxazole b.i.d. Duration of treatment was 14 days in both groups. All patients were cured without experiencing a relapse or becoming a salmonella carrier. Apyrexia and resolution of digestive and neurological symptoms were obtained in a significantly shorter time with pefloxacin than with cotrimoxazole. Pefloxacin was well tolerated and more effective than cotrimoxazole in the treatment of typhoid fever.