Recurrent and penicillin V-resistant otitis media. A treatment study with amoxycillin/clavulanate and cefaclor.

Clinical and bacteriological studies were performed in 122 children, aged 1-10 years, with recurrent otitis media or failed therapy with phenoxymethyl penicillin. A specimen for bacteriological culture was taken from the nasopharynx in all patients, and in our material Haemophilus influenzae, Branhamella catarrhalis and Streptococcus pneumoniae were equally distributed, each forming one-third of the total bacterial count. Thus, H. influenzae and B. catarrhalis (as well as their betalactamase-producing strains) were found more frequently than is generally reported for acute otitis media. Treatment with amoxycillin/clavulanate (Spektramox) gave a high and satisfactory effect comparable to the treatment result of cefaclor (Kefolor). The eradication of the initial pathogens was achieved to a significantly higher extent with Spektramox than with Kefolor. Both drugs were well tolerated.