Comparative evaluation of cefpodoxime versus cefixime in children with lower respiratory tract infections.

OBJECTIVE The emergence of penicillin and macrolide resistant strains, responsible for Acute Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in children has offered third generation cephalosporins the platform to perform. The aim of the present study was to evaluate two third generation oral cephalosporins for their empirical use in community acquired lower respiratory tract infections in pediatric patients. An assessment of the clinical cure and bacteriological eradication rates and an overall tolerability was made. METHODS It was a prospective, open, comparative, multicentric study. 776 children (Mean age 10 years) with LRTIs were included and randomly allotted to two groups respectively. A total of 396 children were given cefpodoxime susp 5 mg/kg b.i.d. and 380 patients on cefixime 4 mg/kg b.i.d. for 10-14 days. RESULTS At the end of therapy, the clinical success with cefpodoxime was 97% as against 86.8% with cefixime. Bacterial eradication was 93.4% with cefpodoxime and 82.9% with cefixime. CONCLUSION Cefpodoxime has been found to be a well-tolerated and superior alternative to cefixime synergistically documenting the extended spectrum of activity.