[Clinicomicrobiological monitoring of patients with exacerbation of chronic bronchitis treated with antibacterial drugs].

AIM: To compare clinical and microbiological efficacy of penicillines and macrolids in patients with exacerbation of chronic bronchitis (CB) basing on long-term follow-up after antibacterial treatment.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Twenty patients with exacerbated CB or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) received amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (augmentin) while 20 other patients were given macrolides (sumamed or clacide). Clinical efficacy was assessed by the rate of exacerbation regression and duration of recurrence-free period in the course of 12-month follow-up. Bacteriological examination was conducted 3-5 days, 1 month after the treatment and at recurrent exacerbation.

RESULTS

Patients on augmentin showed faster regression of exacerbation, earlier remission and higher quality of remission than patients on macrolides. Eradication of etiologically significant pathogens on day 3-5 after therapy with augmentin and macrolides was achieved in 92 and 30% patients, respectively, persistence--in 8 and 70%, respectively. Mean duration of remission was 263 +/- 107.1 and 164.9 +/- 112,2 days, respectively. A correlation was found between duration of recurrence-free period and frequency of eradication and persistence of the agents after antibacterial therapy of CB and COPD.

CONCLUSION

Augmentin promotes a significantly earlier regress of exacerbation symptoms and persistent remission. Eradication potential of augmentin in CB/COPD patients is higher than that of macrolides. Long-term post-exacerbation monitoring (12-month follow-up) discovered that recurrence-free period of augmentin-treated patients is much longer than in patients on macrolides.