TY - JOUR
T1 - A multicenter, randomized, comparative assessment in healthy pediatric volunteers of the palatability of oral antibiotics effective in the therapy of otitis media
AU - Toscani, Michael
AU - Drehobl, Margaret
AU - Freed, Jay
AU - Stool, Sylvan
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported by a grant from Wyeth Lederle Vaccines, Radnor, Pennsylvania. The study conduct and statistical analysis were managed by Gail Boyer and Marty Lesser, PhD, Millennix, Inc., Purchase, New York.
PY - 2000
Y1 - 2000
N2 - Objective: The goal of this study was to evaluate the palatability of antimicrobial suspensions effective against beta-lactamase-producing bacteria in a US pediatric population. Background: Compliance with an antibiotic regimen is a key factor in treatment success. Dosing convenience and palatability are believed to be essential aspects of compliance; however, few studies have evaluated the palatability of antimicrobial suspensions in children. Methods: This single-blind, multicenter, randomized, comparative taste test included 4 antimicrobial suspensions: azithromycin (cherry flavored), cefprozil (bubble gum flavored), cefixime (strawberry flavored), and amoxicillin/clavulanate (banana flavored). It was conducted at 3 primary care pediatric centers and involved a volunteer sample of 90 healthy children (5 to 9 years of age). After each antimicrobial test dose, subjects rated its taste on a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS) incorporating a facial hedonic scale. Assessments of preference for the best- and worst-tasting suspensions were also conducted. Parent surveys regarding the use of antibiotics to treat ear infections were included. Results: Using the VAS, the best-tasting suspension was cefixime (7.3 ± 3.3), compared with azithromycin (6.0 ± 3.8; P < 0.036), cefprozil (5.7 ± 3.5; P < 0.004), and amoxicillin/clavulanate (5.1 ± 3.7; P < 0.0001). More children selected the cefixime and azithromycin preparations as the best-tasting products compared with the others. Cefixime was the least likely to be selected as the worst-tasting product compared with the other suspensions. Parent surveys indicated the following overall features in rank order of importance: antibiotic effectiveness, safety, taste or palatability, dosing convenience (once daily), insurance coverage, cost, and product storage. Conclusion: Among the pediatric population tested, cefixime was most commonly rated as best tasting.
AB - Objective: The goal of this study was to evaluate the palatability of antimicrobial suspensions effective against beta-lactamase-producing bacteria in a US pediatric population. Background: Compliance with an antibiotic regimen is a key factor in treatment success. Dosing convenience and palatability are believed to be essential aspects of compliance; however, few studies have evaluated the palatability of antimicrobial suspensions in children. Methods: This single-blind, multicenter, randomized, comparative taste test included 4 antimicrobial suspensions: azithromycin (cherry flavored), cefprozil (bubble gum flavored), cefixime (strawberry flavored), and amoxicillin/clavulanate (banana flavored). It was conducted at 3 primary care pediatric centers and involved a volunteer sample of 90 healthy children (5 to 9 years of age). After each antimicrobial test dose, subjects rated its taste on a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS) incorporating a facial hedonic scale. Assessments of preference for the best- and worst-tasting suspensions were also conducted. Parent surveys regarding the use of antibiotics to treat ear infections were included. Results: Using the VAS, the best-tasting suspension was cefixime (7.3 ± 3.3), compared with azithromycin (6.0 ± 3.8; P < 0.036), cefprozil (5.7 ± 3.5; P < 0.004), and amoxicillin/clavulanate (5.1 ± 3.7; P < 0.0001). More children selected the cefixime and azithromycin preparations as the best-tasting products compared with the others. Cefixime was the least likely to be selected as the worst-tasting product compared with the other suspensions. Parent surveys indicated the following overall features in rank order of importance: antibiotic effectiveness, safety, taste or palatability, dosing convenience (once daily), insurance coverage, cost, and product storage. Conclusion: Among the pediatric population tested, cefixime was most commonly rated as best tasting.
KW - Antibiotic
KW - Otitis media
KW - Palatability
KW - Taste
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U2 - 10.1016/S0011-393X(00)80018-1
DO - 10.1016/S0011-393X(00)80018-1
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0034125732
VL - 61
SP - 278
EP - 285
JO - Current Therapeutic Research
JF - Current Therapeutic Research
SN - 0011-393X
IS - 5
ER -