Aspoxicillin versus piperacillin in severe abdominal infections— a comparative phase III study

We compared aspoxicillin, a new broad-spectrum penicillin derivative, with piperacillin in severe abdominal infection. Aspoxicillin 4 g administered tds (n=52) or piperacillin 4 g qds (n=53) usually as monotherapy were randomly given to patients suffering from perforated appendicitis, acute cholecystitis, ulcer or colon perforation, or intra-abdominal abscess. Blood, tissue and exudate cultures were obtained when applicable for pathogen identification and susceptibility testing. The efficacy rates were similar in the two study groups. Of the 50 evaluable aspoxicillin patients 45 (90%) were considered as treatment responders compared with 48 patients out of 55 (91%) in the piperacillin group (NS)