To evaluate the efficacy and safety of cefditoren pivoxil (ME1207), a new oral antibiotic of the third generation cephalosporins,
a dose of 200 mg b.i.d. was administered to 20 patients (10 patients with respiratory tract
infections; 10 patients with urinary tract infections) controlled with cefixime in a randomized double blind trial and to 40 patients (20 patients with respiratory tract infections; 10 patients with urinary tract infections; 10 patients with skin soft tissues infections) in an open trial. In the double blind group, the rates of clinical cure, efficacy and bacterial clearance of ME1207 were 80%, 95% and 95% respectively, and in the open trial group they were 75%, 92.5% and 92.5% respectively. We compared the in vitro
activity of ME1207 with those of cefaperazone, cefixime, cefaclor and ampicillin. Results showed that 80 clinical isolates were all sensitive to ME1207. The activity of ME1207 was the same as that of cefoperazone and superior to those of cefixime, cefaclor and ampicillin. The adverse reaction rate of ME1207 was 10% (6/60), and there were no severe side effects observed during the trials.