Effectiveness and safety of cefpodoxime in upper respiratory tract infections in adult Egyptian population a report from the Egyptian STAR registry

Abstract EN

Background : Cefpodoxime is a broad spectrum third generation cephalosporin with antibacterial activity similar to parenteral cephalosporins.

Active against Gram-negative and -positive bacteria, empirical treatment with cefpodoxime is recommended for a wide range of community-acquired infections.

We assessed the efficacy of cefpodoxime for the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) in Egyptian adults, and evaluated its safety in daily practice.

Methods : This prospective, observational, multicentre study recruited adult patients, presenting with acute maxillary sinusitis and tonsilopharyngitis, prescribed 200 mg/day cefpodoxime for 5–10 days by their physicians decision.

Effectiveness, defined as the proportion of patients exhibiting a complete recovery of clinical symptoms for acute sinusitis and tonsilopharyngitis, was assessed.

Safety was evaluated by measuring the prevalence and severity of adverse events (AEs).

Results : A total of 1425 adult patients were recruited from 134 centers across Egypt.

Significant reductions in URTI-related signs and symptoms were observed in subjects prescribed cefpodoxime for a mean 5.87 ± 1.73 days.

An 83.3% cure rate and a 16.2% improvement rate were noted for both acute maxillary sinusitis and tonsilopharyngitis patients.

Superior outcomes were observed in patients with acute tonsilopharyngitis compared to the acute maxillary sinusitis cohort (86.3% and 77.4%, respectively; p < 0.001).

AEs were reported by 12 (0.8%) participants.

All AEs were mild to moderate in intensity; none were serious and all were recovered.

Conclusions : High cure rates for acute maxillary sinusitis and acute tonsilopharyngitis, and a favorable safety and tolerability profile were noted following treatment with cefpodoxime.

Thus, cefpodoxime seems to be effective as empirical treatment in adult Egyptian patients with acute UTRIs.