Abstract
The usefulness of a new macrolide antibiotic rokitamycin (RKM, TMS-19-Q) was evaluated in the field of pediatrics.
1. Twenty seven patients were enrolled in the study. One patient was excluded from the study because the illness was due to a viral infection. They included 14 boys and 13 girls with ages 7 months to 9 years 11 months.
2. The patients were treated with RKM at daily doses ranging 19.2-41.1 mg/kg, divided into 3 equal portions. The administration was done orally at fasting, lasting 2-15 days, with total doses of 22.2-500.0 mg/kg.
3. The patients were diagnostically classified into the following categories: 9 with acute pharyngitis, 15 with acute bronchitis, and one each with pneumonia, purulent lymphadenitis and Campylobacter enteritis.
4. The clinical response to the treatment was good or excellent in 22 of the patients with an overall efficacy rate of 81.5%. An efficacy rate of 88.9% was achieved for the patients with acute pharyngitis, 80.0% for those with acute bronchitis, and 100% for the patient with purulent lymphadenitis and the patient with Campylobacter enteritis. From the patient with pneumonia whose response was evaluated “fair” was Haemophilus influenzae isolated by culturing pharyngeal material. This organism was found resistant to RKM by the disk method.
5. Bacteriological responses were as follows; of 26 isolates presumed to be pathogens, 9 were eradicated, 5 decreased, 7 unchanged and 5 unknown, with an eradication rate of 42.9%.
6. Neither adverse reactions nor abnormal changes in laboratory findings were observed with the medication in any patients during and after the end of the treatment. None of the patients refused the medication. RKM was found very effective and safe in treating pediatric infections: it is a useful drug in the field of pediatrics.
