Cefditoren pivoxil [cefditoren; ‘Spectracef’], a new investigational oral cefalosporin with broad spectrum activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, appears to be effective and well tolerated in the treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis and acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (AECB). Data from 2 phase III clinical trials andin vitroantimicrobial activity studies demonstrating these findings were presented at the 39th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy [San Francisco, US; September 1999].*