Cefadroxil Compared with Cefaclor in the Treatment of Streptococcal Pneumonia in Adults

103 young male Black African gold-miners with pneumococcal pneumonia confirmed by culture or serology were randomly assigned to receive the long acting oral cephalosporin cefadroxil 1g every 12 hours or cefaclor 500mg every 8 hours for 10 days. Clinical cures were obtained in 94% of the group who received cefadroxil and in 94% of the cefaclor group. Similarly, the causative organism S. pneumoniae was eradicated in 98% and 96% of patients who received cefadroxil and cefaclor, respectively. Minimal side effects occurred in both groups, although 1 patient withdrew from therapy with cefaclor because of severe diarrhoea. Thus, cefadroxil and cefaclor both displayed effective antimicrobial activity with low toxicity in the treatment of pneumococcal pneumonia. © 1986, ADIS Press Limited. All rights reserved.