Open clinical trial of roxithromycin amongst patients of Jos University Teaching Hospital with lower and upper respiratory tract infections.

An open non-comparative clinical study to determine the efficacy and tolerance of Roxithromycin 150 mg twice daily was carried out amongst Nigerian patients with acute upper and lower respiratory tract infections. Twenty-four (24) patients (mean age 21.6 years, male 13; females 11 who completed the study presented with acute tonsillitis (33.3%, acute bronchitis (12.5%), lober pneumonia (12.5%), Otitis media (8%), acute pharyngitis (4%) and acute sinusitis (4%). Most of the patients had normal bacterial flora isolated (50.3%). Pathogens isolated included streptococcus pyogenes (21%), moraxella catarhalis (8.3%), streptococcus pneumonia (8.3%) and Klebsiella pneumonia (4%). The quick clinical response, lack of major adverse drug reactions and susceptibility of the bacterial isolates to Roxithromycin were very significant attributes of the drug. In addition, there was complete recovery in 95.8% of the patients. Roxithromycin is therefore a well tolerated and effective drug for the treatment of acute respiratory tract infections in Nigerian patients.