Assessment of the Palatability of β-Lactamase—Resistant Antibiotics in Children

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the palatability of antibiotics effective against β-lactamase—producing bacteria in children and to compare the results obtained with those obtained in adults. Design: A taste test of 4 antibiotic suspensions: a combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid (banana), azithromycin (cherry), clarithromycin (wild fruit), and a combination of erythromycin and sulfisoxazole (strawberry-banana). Setting: Outpatient setting. Subjects: A volunteer sample of 50 healthy children (mean±SD age, 6.3±1.3 years) and 20 adults. Main Outcome Measures: After each antibiotic test dose, subjects rated its taste on a 10-cm visual analog scale incorporating a facial hedonic scale. Results: The mean±SD taste scores of the antibiotics as rated by the children were as follows: amoxicillin—clavulanic acid, 5.7±3.6 cm; azithromycin, 6.8±3.2 cm; clarithromycin, 3.7±3.6 cm; and erythromycin-sulfisoxazole, 4.9±3.5 cm. The mean±SD taste score for erythromycin-sulfisoxazole (ie, 2.7±2.3) assigned by the adults was significantly different than that given by the children (P=.01) with no difference noted for the other 3 drugs. Children and adults both selected azithromycin most often as best tasting. There was a significant difference in the proportions selecting each antibiotic as worst tasting, with the children tending to dislike clarithromycin and the adults tending to dislike erythromycin-sulfisoxazole (P=.03). Conclusions: The taste of azithromycin was rated most highly by both children and adults, who also selected this antibiotic most often as best tasting. Differences in taste-testing results between children and adults suggest that evaluation of the palatability of medications intended for use in pediatrics should be conducted in children. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1997;151:599-602