Combined cefuroxime plus acetylcysteine in the treatment of bacterial infections of the respiratory tract.

Fifty adult patients (29 males, 21 females) suffering from respiratory tract infections with substantial production of mucus were treated with cefuroxime 1 g and acetylcysteine 300 mg administered simultaneously by i.m. injection twice daily for 10 days. Bacteriological tests were performed before and after treatment. Clinical variables (fever, cough, quantity and type of sputum, difficulty in expectorating) were evaluated, and assigned scores ranging from 0 to 3 according to an arbitrary semiquantitative scoring system. The therapeutic results obtained were positive. No side-effects were observed.