Clinical efficacy and tolerance of Augmentin in soft tissue infection

Twenty-seven patients with infections caused by amoxycillin-resistant bacteria were treated with oral Augmentin, a formulation of amoxycillin with the β-lactamase inhibitor clavulanic acid. The infections treated were gynaecological sepsis (11), intra-abdominal sepsis (10). cellulitis (4) and bronchopneumonia (2). Bacteroides fragilis, either alone or in combination with other pathogens, was isolated from ten patients, Staphylococcus aureus being identified as a primary pathogen in four patients (and presumed to be the pathogen in a further four). Three patients were bacteraemic. The overall cure rate was 85% (23 of 27 patients), the remaining patients being assessed as improved. There were no treatment failures. The cure rate in infections involving Bact. fragilis was 80%, and that in staphylococcal infection 87·5%. Augmentin was well tolerated, two patients developing a penicillin rash (7·5%) and two mild nausea (7·5%). Augmentin is a safe and effective alternative to conventional antibiotics in those patients with invasive soft tissue infection in whom oral therapy is appropriate.