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Double-blind placebo controlled trial of erythromycin for treatment of Campylobacter enteritis.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Anders, BJ; Lauer, BA; Paisley, JW; Reller, LB
Published in: Lancet
January 16, 1982

Although most strains of Campylobacter jejuni are susceptible in vitro to erythromycin and the drug has been recommended for treatment of campylobacter enteritis, prospective controlled trials have not been done. Erythromycin (250 mg 6-hourly for adults and 40 mg/kg daily for children) has been compared with placebo in a double-blind trial of 5-day therapy for acute campylobacter enteritis. The mean number of days of illness at onset of therapy was 5.6 for the treatment group (n = 15) and 6.5 for the placebo group (n = 14). There were no differences in temperature, symptoms, and stool characteristics between the two groups. The mean duration of unformed stools after treatment was 4.1 days in the erythromycin group and 3.5 days in the placebo group. Fever, when present, abated within 48 h in all but two patients in each group. Follow-up faecal cultures 2 days after completion of therapy, however, were negative in all 15 of the erythromycin-treated patients compared with 6 out of 14 controls. Thus erythromycin promptly eradicates C. jejuni from the faeces but does not alter the natural course of uncomplicated campylobacter enteritis when therapy begins 4 or more days after the onset of symptoms.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Lancet

DOI

ISSN

0140-6736

Publication Date

January 16, 1982

Volume

1

Issue

8264

Start / End Page

131 / 132

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Random Allocation
  • Humans
  • General & Internal Medicine
  • Feces
  • Erythromycin
  • Enteritis
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Campylobacter Infections
  • 42 Health sciences
 

Citation

APA
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ICMJE
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Anders, B. J., Lauer, B. A., Paisley, J. W., & Reller, L. B. (1982). Double-blind placebo controlled trial of erythromycin for treatment of Campylobacter enteritis. Lancet, 1(8264), 131–132. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(82)90380-4
Anders, B. J., B. A. Lauer, J. W. Paisley, and L. B. Reller. “Double-blind placebo controlled trial of erythromycin for treatment of Campylobacter enteritis.Lancet 1, no. 8264 (January 16, 1982): 131–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(82)90380-4.
Anders BJ, Lauer BA, Paisley JW, Reller LB. Double-blind placebo controlled trial of erythromycin for treatment of Campylobacter enteritis. Lancet. 1982 Jan 16;1(8264):131–2.
Anders, B. J., et al. “Double-blind placebo controlled trial of erythromycin for treatment of Campylobacter enteritis.Lancet, vol. 1, no. 8264, Jan. 1982, pp. 131–32. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(82)90380-4.
Anders BJ, Lauer BA, Paisley JW, Reller LB. Double-blind placebo controlled trial of erythromycin for treatment of Campylobacter enteritis. Lancet. 1982 Jan 16;1(8264):131–132.
Journal cover image

Published In

Lancet

DOI

ISSN

0140-6736

Publication Date

January 16, 1982

Volume

1

Issue

8264

Start / End Page

131 / 132

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Random Allocation
  • Humans
  • General & Internal Medicine
  • Feces
  • Erythromycin
  • Enteritis
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Campylobacter Infections
  • 42 Health sciences