Use of flurythromycin ethylsuccinate in infections of lower airways due to sensitive germs: multicenter comparative study with clarithromycin.

We have conducted a trial according to double-blind, double-dummy conditions, comparing flurythromycin ethylsuccinate with clarithromycin treatments. Sensitive pathogenic bacteria were isolated according to the Kirby Bauer method from sputum cultures of 152 patients affected by acute infections of lower airways (bronchitis, bronchopneumonia, etc.). The activities of the 2 drugs were investigated on the basis of a main bacteriological evaluation and of several secondary criteria; the 2 treatments were effective and tolerated to the same extent. It can be concluded that in the treatment of infections of lower respiratory airways the use of flurythromycin offers some advantages.