Open, noncomparative trial of sultamicillin oral suspension in childhood infections

Abstract Ninety-three Nigerian children of both sexes ages 3 months to 6 years with pneumonia or ear, throat, vaginal, skin, and soft tissue infections were treated with an oral suspension of sultamicillin in a mean dosage of 50 mg/kg/day administered in two equally divided doses. Bacterial isolates from the patients were predominantly Staphylococcus, Streptococcus , and Gonococcus species. The clinical and bacteriologic cure rates in the 63 children eligible for evaluation were 97% and 99%, respectively. The mean duration of treatment was 7 days. The drug was well accepted and tolerated; only 3% of patients experienced an adverse reaction (diarrhea only), and approximately 1% discontinued treatment because of the adverse effect. We conclude that sultamicillin oral suspension is effective and safe for treating a variety of childhood infections.