Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim (Sulfamethoxazole / Trimethoprim) - Summary

SUMMARY

SULFAMETHOXAZOLE AND TRIMETHOPRIM TABLETS USP

Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim is a synthetic antibacterial combination product available in DS (double strength) tablets, each containing 800 mg sulfamethoxazole and 160 mg trimethoprim; in tablets, each containing 400 mg sulfamethoxazole and 80 mg trimethoprim for oral administration.

To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim tablets and other antibacterial drugs, sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria. When culture and susceptibility information are available, they should be considered in selecting or modifying antibacterial therapy. In the absence of such data, local epidemiology and susceptibility patterns may contribute to empiric selection of therapy.

Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim is indicated for the following:

Urinary Tract Infections

For the treatment of urinary tract infections due to susceptible strains of the following organisms: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella species, Enterobacter species, Morganella morganii, Proteus mirabilis and Proteus vulgaris. It is recommended that initial episodes of uncomplicated urinary tract infections be treated with a single effective antibacterial agent rather than the combination.

Acute Otitis Media

For the treatment of acute otitis media in pediatric patients due to susceptible strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae or Haemophilus influenzae when in the judgment of the physician sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim offers some advantage over the use of other antimicrobial agents. To date, there are limited data on the safety of repeated use of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim in pediatric patients under two years of age. Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim is not indicated for prophylactic or prolonged administration in otitis media at any age.

Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Bronchitis in Adults

For the treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis due to susceptible strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae or Haemophilus influenzae when in the judgment of the physician sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim offers some advantage over the use of a single antimicrobial agent.

Shigellosis

For the treatment of enteritis caused by susceptible strains of Shigella flexneri and Shigella sonnei when antibacterial therapy is indicated.

Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia

For the treatment of documented Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and for prophylaxis against Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in individuals who are immunosuppressed and considered to be at an increased risk of developing Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.

Traveler's Diarrhea in Adults

For the treatment of traveler's diarrhea due to susceptible strains of enterotoxigenic E. coli.

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NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Published Studies Related to Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim (Sulfamethoxazole / Trimethoprim)

Effect of long-term trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole treatment on resistance and integron prevalence in the intestinal flora: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in children. [2009.05]
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole selects for integron-positive and multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in the intestinal flora... CONCLUSIONS: Initially, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole usage was strongly associated with the appearance of integron-positive (multi)drug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in the intestinal flora. After prolonged exposure to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, however, this population of Enterobacteriaceae was substituted by a population with non-integron-associated resistance mechanisms. After trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole was discontinued, susceptibility rates to all antibiotics returned to baseline levels.

Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in children with chronic otitis media: a randomized comparison of costs and effects. [2008.10]
OBJECTIVE: To study the cost-effectiveness of a 6- to 12-week course of high-dose oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in children with chronic active otitis media (COM)... CONCLUSION: In children with active COM, direct and indirect costs of a 6- to 12-week course of high-dose oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole are modest in the light of its short-term clinical benefit.

Randomized controlled trial of pyrimethamine plus sulfadiazine versus trimethoprim plus sulfamethoxazole for treatment of toxoplasmic encephalitis in AIDS patients. [2008.03]
Background: Toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE), caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is common in AIDS patients... Conclusions: Available data suggest that of the currently available options, treatment of TE with pyrimethamine at 50 mg/day plus sulfadiazidine at 4 g/day provides the best primary outcome for AIDS patients with TE; however, because this study was terminated prematurely, we suggest that treatment with intravenous TMP-SMX be further evaluated to determine its efficacy.

Simultaneous determination of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim in biological fluids for high-throughput analysis: comparison of HPLC with ultraviolet and tandem mass spectrometric detection. [2008.02.15]
The comparison of two methods based on online solid phase extraction-liquid chromatography with UV (SPE-LC-UV) or mass spectrometry detection (SPE-LC-MS/MS) for the simultaneous quantification of sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) and trimethoprim (TMP) is presented.The method with MS detection in comparison with UV detection proved to be more rugged and was successfully applied to pharmacokinetics studies.

Prospective randomized trial of empiric therapy with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or doxycycline for outpatient skin and soft tissue infections in an area of high prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. [2007.07]
To evaluate empirical therapy with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or doxycycline for outpatient skin and soft tissue infections in an area of high prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a randomized, prospective, open-label investigation was performed.However, there was no significant difference between the clinical failure rate of empirical trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole therapy and that of doxycycline therapy.

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Clinical Trials Related to Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim (Sulfamethoxazole / Trimethoprim)

Trimetrexate Plus Leucovorin Calcium Rescue Versus Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim in the Treatment of Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia (PCP) in Patients With AIDS [Completed]
To compare the safety and effectiveness of an investigational drug therapy (trimetrexate plus leucovorin calcium) with that of conventional therapy (sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim) in the treatment of moderately severe Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in patients who have AIDS, are HIV positive, or are at high risk for HIV infection. New treatments are needed to reduce the mortality rate from PCP in AIDS patients and to reduce the high relapse rate found after conventional therapy. Trimetrexate (TMTX) was chosen for this trial because it was found to be much more potent than sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (SMX/TMP) against the PCP organism in laboratory tests. Also TMTX, in combination with leucovorin (LCV), did not cause severe toxicity in a preliminary trial. It is believed that TMTX will be more effective in treating PCP and in preventing a recurrence of PCP.

Gradual Initiation of Sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim as Primary Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia Prophylaxis [Completed]
To determine whether gradual initiation of sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (SMX/TMP) reduces the incidence of treatment-limiting adverse reactions compared to the routine initiation of the drugs for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) prophylaxis in HIV-infected patients.

Although a number of clinical trials have demonstrated the superiority of SMX/TMP for PCP prophylaxis, the incidence of adverse reactions to this medication is high. In a pilot study in which patients were initiated with SMX/TMP prophylaxis by gradually increasing the dose over 2 weeks, no significant adverse reactions have occurred.

Evaluation of the Interaction Between High Dose Sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim and Zidovudine [Completed]
To determine if the pharmacokinetics of high doses of zidovudine (AZT) (that is, how fast AZT reaches the blood, what concentration of AZT is attained in the blood, and how long AZT remains in the blood) changes from day to day in the same patient. Also to determine whether the pharmacokinetics of AZT is changed when trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (SMX/TMP) is given at the same time, or whether the pharmacokinetics of SMX/TMP is altered by AZT given at the same time.

AZT has been effective in treating HIV infection in some patients with AIDS, and SMX/TMP is an antibiotic combination which is useful in preventing or treating Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP). It is important to know how drugs interact in patients because addition of a second drug may change the speed at which a drug is eliminated from the body, and cause increased toxic effects or decreased therapeutic effects.

Evaluation of the Interaction Between Low Dose Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim and Zidovudine [Completed]
To determine if the pharmacokinetics of low doses of zidovudine (AZT) (that is, how fast AZT reaches the blood, what concentration of AZT is attained in the blood, and how long AZT remains in the blood) changes from day-to-day in the same patient. Also to determine whether the pharmacokinetics of AZT is changed by sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (SMX/TMP) given at the same time or whether the pharmacokinetics of SMX/TMP is altered by AZT therapy. AZT has been effective in treating some patients with AIDS, and SMX/TMP is an antibiotic combination which is useful in preventing or treating Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), which is an important cause of disease and death in patients with AIDS. It is important to know how drugs interact in patients because addition of a second drug may change the speed at which a drug is eliminated from the body, and cause increased toxic effects or decreased therapeutic effects.

Effect of Fluconazole, Clarithromycin, and Rifabutin on the Pharmacokinetics of Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim and Dapsone and Their Hydroxylamine Metabolites [Completed]
To determine the effects of fluconazole and either rifabutin or clarithromycin, alone and in combination, on the pharmacokinetics of first sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim and then dapsone in HIV-infected patients.

Although prophylaxis for more than one opportunistic infection is emerging as a common clinical practice in patients with advanced HIV disease, little is known about possible adverse drug interactions. The need exists to define pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic adverse interactions of the many combination prophylactic regimens that may be prescribed.

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