UNCOMPLICATED TYPHOID FEVER

COMPARISON OF AZITHROMYCIN AND CIPROFLOXACIN IN THE TREATMENT

Abstract

Objectives: Objectives of this study were To compare the clinical and
bacteriological cure rates of azithromycin and ciprofloxacin in the treatment of uncomplicated
typhoid fever and To determine any difference in the clinical and bacteriological cure rates
within the two groups of study. Study Design: Quasi experimental study. Setting: Department
of Medicine, DHQ/ Teaching Hospital Dera Ghazi Khan. Period: April 2016 to September 2016.
Patients and Methods: A total of 60 patients including both males and females over 18 years
of age were included in the study by Simple random probability sampling. Patients fulfilling the
inclusion criteria were divided in two equal groups of 30 by using the random numbers table.
First group was treated with azithromycin one gram on day one and then 500 mg daily for next
six days. Second group was treated with ciprofloxacin 500mg twice daily for ten days. All the
data was analyzed by the computer programme SPSS. Frequency, percentages, mean values
and standard deviations were calculated for age, sex, symptoms, signs, culture reports, clinical
cure rates and bacteriological cure rates. Results: Most common clinical feature was fever
noted in 100% patients followed by headache (86.6%) and nausea / vomiting (76.6%). Out of
60, 52 (86.6%) patients were culture positive. In Azithromycin group clinical and bacteriological
responses were achieved in 93.3% and 92.3% respectively while in ciprofloxacin group they
were 96.6% and 96.15% respectively. There was no significant statistical difference between the
clinical and bacteriological cure rates among two groups. Conclusion: Both ciprofloxacin and
azithromycin are equally effective in the treatment of uncomplicated typhoid fever.