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.