Evaluation of the effectiveness of azithromycin in the treatment of uncomplicated enteric fever in local population

ABSTRACT

Many drugs have been used for the treatment of enteric fever. Azithromycin is a newer macrolide antibiotic also said to be effective against Salmonella typhi. In order to evaluate its effectiveness in our population, suspected typhoid patients were randomly selected from the OPD's of JPMC, Department of Medicine and were subjected to blood culture. 40 blood culture positive patients were given capsule Azthromycin in a dose of 500 mg per day for 10 days. Patients were observed for settlement of fever and/or any adverse effect during this period. Their CBC, ALT and creatinine levels were measured before the start of treatment. They were again subjected to blood culture on day 14, 4 days after the cessation of treatment. Fever settled in all patients between days 4 to 5. Blood cultures were negative in all patients after treatment. It was concluded that Azithromycin was effective in treating cases of enteric fever