Randomized Controlled Study of Once Daily 400 mg Pefloxacin in Typhoid and Paratyphoid Fever

A 7 day short course ofottce daily 4OO ng pefloxacin (PEF) was contpared by a double blitrd dwntny technique against a standard 14 days course of 50 ng chloranphenicol (CAP) /kg Bflday itr four divided dosages for treat,nent of typhoid and paratyphoid fever. The purpose of the study was to evaluate objectively clitrical and bacteriological eficacy. A total of 79 patients were enrolled. Ottly S.typhi and S. paratyphi positive cases were included in the fnal analysis. Both groups were co,nparable for duration of iilness, sex, age, body weight and height. Microorganisms were all sensitive to both PEF and CAP. Treatment results were significantly better in the PEF group (N:20), fever cleared in an average of 3,8 days (SD + 1,6). In the CAP group (N:21) it was 4,5 days (SD + 1,5). In the CAP group one patient died and two other cases sufferedfrotn complications, rectal bleeding and toxaetnia respectively. None was seen ' in the PEF group. There were also no secretod carriers or relapses seen in the PEF group while 2 cases became secretory carriers in the CAP group. A sytrtptotnatic newly acquired post treat,nent Salmonella spp. infections were noted in both groups (two in the PEF group and one in'Ihe CAP group). It nay be concluded that in this limited but very objective study, a short 7-day once daily peJlomcin treatrnent course in our local population yielded superior results cotnpared to standard chloratnphenicol teatrnent.