Table 2.
Effects of empiric antibiotic treatment of community-acquired diarrhea: results of placebo-controlled trials
| Mean duration of diarrhea from start of treatment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drug and dosage | No. of participants | Placebo group | Intervention group | Difference between means (95% confidence interval)* |
| Lomefloxacin, 400 mg/d for 5 d23 | 84 | 3.2 d | 4.4 d | 1.2 d (0.1 to 2.5 d) |
| Ofloxacin, 400-mg single dose26 | 117 | 3.4 d | 2.5 d | -0.9 d (-1.8 to 0.0 d) |
| TMP-SMX, 800/160 mg bid for 3 d21 | 287 | 30.2 h | 24.4 h | -5.8 h |
| Cloquinol, 250 mg tid for 3 d21 | 287 | 30.2 h | 25.5 h | -4.7 h |
| Enoxacin, 400 mg bid for 5 d21 | 137 | 44.9 h | 38.9 h | -6 h |
| TMP-SMX, 160/800 mg bid for 5 d21 | 137 | 44.9 h | 42.3 h | -2.6 h |
| Ciprofloxacin, 500 mg bid for 5 d24 | 162 | 2.9 d | 1.5 d | 1.4 d |
| Ciprofloxacin, 500 mg bid for 5 d25 | 173 | 3.4 d | 2.4 d | 1 d |
| TMP-SMX, 160/800 mg bid for 5 d25 | 173 | 3.4 d | NA | NA |
| Ciprofloxacin, 500 mg bid for 5 d27 | 85 | 4.6 d | 2.2 d | -2.4 d |
| d = day; TMP-SMX = trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole; bid = twice a day; h = hour; tid = 3 times a day; NA = not available. | ||||
*
If available from published data.