Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To compare the effectiveness and toxicity of semisynthetic penicillins (SSPs) (amoxicillin, ampicillin, pivampicillin) and trimethoprim-based regimens (trimethoprim, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim-sulfadiazine) in treating acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (ABECB).

DATA SOURCES:

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Current Contents, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials to identify and extract data from relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

STUDY SELECTION:

Only RCTs comparing penicillins with trimethoprim-based regimens for the treatment of patients with ABECB that reported data on effectiveness, toxicity, or mortality were considered eligible for this meta-analysis.

SYNTHESIS:

Out of 134 RCTs identified in the search, 5 RCTs involving 287 patients were included in the analysis. There were no differences between patients with ABECB treated with SSPs and those treated with trimethoprim, alone or in combination with a sulfonamide, in treatment success (intention-to-treat patients: n = 262, odds ratio [OR] 1.68, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.91-3.09; clinically evaluable patients: n = 246, OR 1.59, 95% CI 0.79-3.20) or number of drug-related adverse events in general (n = 186 patients, OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.11-1.24), frequency of diarrhea or skin rashes, or number of withdrawals due to adverse events (n = 179 patients, OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.07-1.03).

CONCLUSION:

Based on limited evidence leading to wide CIs of the estimated treatment effects, SSPs and trimethoprim-based regimens seem to be equivalent in terms of effectiveness and toxicity for ABECB.