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Biomedical subjects

G C Giguere

Publications and source records attributed to G C Giguere.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Comparison of single-dose cefuroxime axetil with ciprofloxacin in treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhea caused by penicillinase-producing and non-penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains.

A randomized, multicenter, investigator-blind trial was conducted to compare the efficacies of cefuroxime axetil and ciprofloxacin for treatment of patients with uncomplicated gonorrhea caused by penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG). A total of 832 patients (434 females and 398 males) received a single oral dose of cefuroxime axetil (1,000 mg [417 patients]) or ciprofloxacin (500 mg [415 patients]). N. gonorrhoeae was eradicated from the cervix in 114 of 118 (97%) and 118 of 119 (99%) bacteriologically evaluable females treated with cefuroxime axetil and ciprofloxacin, respectively (P = 0.213; difference, -2%; 95% confidence interval, -6 to 1%), and from the urethra in 154 of 166 (93%) and 171 of 171 (100%) bacteriologically evaluable male patients treated with cefuroxime axetil and ciprofloxacin, respectively (P < 0.001; difference, -7%; 95% confidence interval, -11 to -3%). Both treatments were effective in eradicating N. gonorrhoeae in females with rectal infections (cefuroxime axetil, 29 of 30 [97%]; ciprofloxacin, 25 of 25 [100%]; P = 1.00). In small numbers of patients, cefuroxime axetil was less effective than ciprofloxacin in treating males with pharyngeal infections (eradication in 4 of 10 and in 8 of 8 patients, respectively; P = 0.013). PPNG was eradicated from the cervix in 22 of 23 (96%) and 32 of 32 (100%) bacteriologically evaluable female patients treated with cefuroxime axetil and ciprofloxacin, respectively (P = 0.418; difference, -4%; 95% confidence interval, -13 to 4%), and from the urethra in 35 of 36 (97%) and 34 of 34 (100%) bacteriologically evaluable male patients treated with cefuroxime axetil and ciprofloxacin, respectively (P = 1.00; difference, -3%; 95% confidence interval, -8 to 3%). The incidences of drug-related adverse events were similar for the two study drugs. In summary, treatment with a single oral dose of cefuroxime axetil is as effective as treatment with a single oral dose of ciprofloxacin in eradicating PPNG from males and females with uncomplicated gonorrhea (urethral and endocervical), and both regimens are well-tolerated. However, in the present study, cefuroxime axetil was less effective than ciprofloxacin in treating urethral gonococcal infections in male patients, although both study drugs were highly effective in treating cervical gonococcal infections in female patients.

Adolescent↗

Clinical comparison of cefuroxime axetil and amoxicillin/clavulanate in the treatment of patients with acute bacterial maxillary sinusitis.

PURPOSE: This multicenter study compared the clinical and bacteriologic efficacy of two oral antibiotics, cefuroxime axetil and amoxicillin/clavulanate, in the treatment of acute bacterial maxillary sinusitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three hundred seventeen patients with clinical and radiographic evidence of acute maxillary sinusitis were enrolled at nine centers and were randomly assigned to receive 10 days of treatment with cefuroxime axetil 250 mg twice daily (n = 157) or amoxicillin/clavulanate 500 mg three times daily (n = 160). Patients were assessed for both clinical and bacteriologic responses once during treatment (5 to 7 days) and twice after treatment (1 to 3 days and 4 weeks). Bacteriologic assessments were based on needle aspirates of the maxillary sinus obtained pretreatment and, when possible, at the first posttreatment visit. RESULTS: Organisms were isolated from the pretreatment sinus aspirates of 198 of 317 (62%) patients, with the primary isolates being Streptococcus pneumoniae (22%), Haemophilus spp. (17%), Staphylococcus aureus (13%), and Haemophilus influenzae (10%). A satisfactory clinical outcome (cure or improvement) was achieved in 85% (98 of 115) and 82% (102 of 124) of the clinically evaluable patients treated with cefuroxime axetil or amoxicillin/clavulanate, respectively (P = 0.446). With respect to the eradication of the bacterial pathogens, a satisfactory outcome (cure or presumed cure) was obtained in 84% (31 of 37) and 87% (34 of 39) of bacteriologically evaluable patients treated with cefuroxime axetil or amoxicillin/clavulanate, respectively (p = 0.567). Treatment with amoxicillin/clavulanate was associated with a significantly higher incidence of drug-related adverse events (13% versus 3%, p = 0.001), particularly diarrhea (8% versus 1%, p = 0.001). Two patients in the cefuroxime axetil group and three patients in the amoxicillin/clavulanate group withdrew from the study due to adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that cefuroxime axetil twice a day is as effective as amoxicillin/clavulanate three times a day in the treatment of acute bacterial maxillary sinusitis but produces fewer adverse effects.

Acute Disease↗

Postmarketing comparison of labetalol and propranolol in hypertensive patients.

A survey was conducted to compare the safety and effectiveness of labetalol and propranolol under routine conditions of clinical use. Patients received either labetalol (n = 805) or propranolol (n = 135) twice daily, according to package insert instructions, for six weeks. Every two weeks the patients were evaluated and weight, heart rate, blood pressure, dose, and adverse symptoms were recorded. Both treatment groups experienced a significant decline in blood pressure at six weeks; blood pressure decreased by 24/15 mmHg in the labetalol patients and by 20/14 mmHg in the propranolol patients. Heart rate decreased significantly in both groups, but the drop in the propranolol group was greater than in the labetalol group. Significantly more propranolol-treated patients reported fatigue (15.2% versus 6.3%), impotence (9.0% versus 3.2%), bad dreams (2.3% versus 0.3%), and cold extremities (2.3% versus 0%). Dizziness was reported more frequently by the labetalol group (9.1% versus 3.8%). Overall, both drugs were safe and effective in treating hypertension, but complaints of beta-blocker-associated side effects were more frequent with propranolol.

Adult↗

Increased lead absorption in children of workers in a lead storage battery plant.

Exposure to toxic materials originating in the workplace has been recognized in families of workers in several industries. However, to date this problem has not been studied in the storage battery production industry. Twenty-seven one- to six-year-old children of 22 workers at a storage battery plant at high risk of exposure to lead oxide were compared with 32 one- to six-year-old children in 22 neighborhood control families for evidence of increased lead absorption. Workers' children had significantly higher blood lead (p less than 0.001) and erythrocyte protoporphyrin (p less than 0.003) values than control children. Household exposures to lead in paint and water were similar for the two groups, but workers' homes had significantly higher concentrations of lead in dust (p less than 0.001). It is postulated that lead is brought home on the skin, hair and clothing of the workers and that their children are ingesting or inhaling the lead in household dust. This is the first report of increased lead absorption in children of workers in this industry.

Absorption↗

Clinical comparison of cefuroxime axetil suspension and amoxicillin/clavulanate suspension in the treatment of pediatric patients with acute otitis media with effusion.

Two independent, investigator-blinded, multicenter, randomized clinical trials, one of which included microbiologic evaluation of middle-ear fluid obtained by use of tympanocentesis, compared the efficacy and safety of two oral antibiotics, cefuroxime axetil suspension and amoxicillin/clavulanate suspension, in the treatment of children 3 months to 12 years old diagnosed with acute otitis media with effusion (AOME). Four hundred seventy-seven pediatric patients with signs and symptoms of AOME were enrolled at 20 centers and were randomly assigned to receive 10 days of treatment with either cefuroxime axetil suspension 30 mg/kg per day in two divided doses (n = 235) or amoxicillin/clavulanate suspension 40 mg/kg per day in three divided doses (n = 242). Patients were assessed for their response to treatment once during treatment (at 3 to 5 days) and twice after treatment (at 1 to 4 days and at 14 to 18 days). In the study that included tympanocentesis, bacteriologic assessments were based on middle-ear fluid cultures obtained pretreatment, and, when possible, posttreatment in patients with an unsatisfactory clinical outcome. Organisms were isolated from the pretreatment middle-ear fluid specimens of 120 (73%) of 164 patients undergoing tympanocentesis, with the primary pathogens being Streptococcus pneumoniae. Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis (27%, 24%, and 6% of isolates, respectively). Forty-four percent of the H influenzae isolates and 94% of the M catarrhalis isolates that were tested for beta-lactamase production were positive. A satisfactory clinical outcome (cure or improvement) was obtained in 70% of clinically assessable patients treated with cefuroxime axetil or amoxicillin/clavulanate, respectively (P = 0.40). With respect to the eradication of bacterial pathogens, in the study that included tympanocentesis a satisfactory outcome (cure or presumed cure) was obtained in 84% (32 of 38) and 95% (36 of 38) of bacteriologically assessable patients treated with cefuroxime axetil or amoxicillin/clavulanate, respectively (P = 0.26). Treatment with amoxicillin/clavulanate was associated with a significantly higher incidence of drug-related adverse events than was treatment with cefuroxime axetil (37% vs 16%; P < 0.001), primarily reflecting a higher incidence of drug-related gastrointestinal adverse events (34% vs 12%; P < 0.001), particularly diarrhea. Eight patients in the cefuroxime axetil group and 11 patients in the amoxicillin/clavulanate group withdrew from the studies because of drug-related adverse events. These results indicate that cefuroxime axetil suspension 15 mg/kg twice daily is as effective as amoxicillin/clavulanate suspension 13.3 mg/kg three times daily in the treatment of pediatric patients with AOME, but produces fewer gastrointestinal adverse events, particularly diarrhea.

Amoxicillin↗

Antibiotic prophylaxis during clean neurosurgery: a large, multicenter study using cefuroxime.

Cefuroxime is a second-generation cephalosporin with in vitro activity against the organisms that are commonly associated with neurosurgical wound infections. Other properties of cefuroxime are an elimination half-life of 1.3 hours, which yields prolonged serum concentrations, and its ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier in proportion to the degree of inflammation. A prospective, multicenter, open-label study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of cefuroxime for antibiotic prophylaxis in patients undergoing clean neurosurgery. Cefuroxime 1.5 g was given intravenously 25 to 60 minutes before surgery; for procedures lasting more than 3 hours, cefuroxime 750 mg was given intravenously 8 hours after the initial dose. Patients were examined before surgery, daily during hospitalization, and at 8 weeks after surgery. A total of 956 adults were enrolled in the study. The most common procedures in study patients were laminectomy (41.8% of patients) or craniotomy (24.3%), and the mean duration of surgery was 3.2 hours. Infection occurred in 2 (0.3%) of 592 assessable patients by the time of discharge and in 1 additional patient by the 8-week follow-up evaluation for a total of 3 (0.5%) of 560 assessable patients. Drug-related adverse events occurred in 5 (0.5%) of 956 patients. These results indicate that antibiotic prophylaxis with cefuroxime is associated with a low incidence of postoperative wound infection and is well tolerated in patients undergoing clean neurosurgery.

Adult↗