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Aloe barbadensis Miller (or Aloe vera) has widespread use in health products, and despite numerous reports on the whole plant, little work has been performed on the inner gel, which has been used extensively in these products. This report describes the in vitro susceptibilities of two bacteria to this component

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The efficacy and safety of azithromycin and penicillin V in the treatment of acute streptococcal pharyngitis/tonsillitis in paediatric patients were compared in a double-blind, double-dummy prospective study. A total of 489 children (age range, 2-13 years) were randomized to receive treatment with penicillin V (125-250 mg 4 x daily for 10 days) or azithromycin in an oral suspension (10 or 20 mg/kg 1 x daily for 3 days). Only patients with baseline cultures positive for Streptococcus pyogenes and complete clinical and microbiological assessments at the end of the therapy and follow-up one month later were included in the efficacy analysis. A satisfactory clinical response (cure or improvement) was recorded in 99% of the 10 mg/kg azithromycin group, 100% of the 20 mg/kg azithromycin group, and 97% of the penicillin V group at the end of therapy (day 12-14). At the follow-up evaluation (day 28-30), relapse rates in patients cured or improved at the end of therapy were 6%, 5%, and 2%, respectively. Bacteriological eradication rates at the end of therapy were 98% in both azithromycin groups and 92% in patients who received penicillin V (p = 0.011); pathogen recurrence was recorded at follow-up in 4% of the 20 mg/kg azithromycin group and in 6% of both the 10 mg/kg azithromycin and penicillin V groups. Treatment-related adverse events, the majority of mild to moderate severity, occurred in 13% of patients in the 20 mg/kg azithromycin group, 9% in the 10 mg/kg azithromycin group, and 5% in the penicillin V group. Azithromycin in a dosage of 10 or 20 mg/kg/day one daily for three days was as safe and effective as penicillin V administered four times daily in the treatment of paediatric patients with acute pharyngitis/tonsillitis.

The efficacy and safety of azithromycin and clarithromycin in lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) were compared in an open, multicentre study. Five hundred and ten adult patients with a diagnosis of LRTI, including acute bronchitis, acute infective exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (AIECB) or pneumonia were enrolled. The patients were randomly assigned to receive either azithromycin (n = 252) as a single daily dose of 500 mg for three days, or clarithromycin (n = 258) 250 mg twice daily for ten days. In AIECB patients, baseline comparisons of the two treatment groups showed that there were no differences in the number of previous episodes of infection or in the incidence of current or past smokers. The overall clinical efficacy was found to be similar in each treatment group on day 10 to 14, with a satisfactory response (cured or improved) in 94% of azithromycin- and 97% of clarithromycin-treated patients. At follow-up evaluation (day 18 to 22), 97% of azithromycin- and 100% of clarithromycin-treated patients who had improved at day 10 to 14, showed satisfactory outcomes. Bacteriological efficacy was similar in both treatment groups, with eradication of 100% vs 95% of isolates in the azithromycin and clarithromycin groups, respectively. In AIECB, 100% of pathogens were eradicated by azithromycin, although one patient was clinically assessed as failed. Clarithromycin eradicated 93% of pathogens in this group; all patients being assessed as cured or improved. Both drugs were well tolerated, with 9% and 6% of patients reporting adverse events with azithromycin and clarithromycin, respectively. These adverse events were largely gastrointestinal in origin. It was concluded that a three-day course of azithromycin is as effective and well tolerated as a ten-day course of clarithromycin in adults with acute LRTIs.