A simple oral antimicrobial regimen effective in severe chronic bronchial suppuration associated with culturable Haemophilus influenzae.

Three grams of amoxycillin administered twice daily for seven days, as an oral powder (Amoxil 3G sachets, Bencard) dispersed in water, to 17 patients with bronchiectasis resulted in striking clinical, spirometric and bacteriological improvement in 11 of 12 patients who were producing purulent sputum from which Haemophilus influenzae was cultured by a selective bacteriological technique (Roberts & Cole, 1980). In the five patients from whose sputum this organism could not be cultured, and in one from whom it could, there was no improvement. Untoward effects were limited to nausea in one patient and acceptability of the regimen by the remaining patients was unanimous. There was no evidence of accumulation of the drug in serum or sputum. The rapidity of effect and oral form of the treatment suggest that it may provide a simple out-patient regimen for chronic bronchial sepsis and severe purulent exacerbations of chronic bronchitis from which H. influenzae can be cultured.