Cefotaxime Therapy of Serious Infections with Multiresistant Gram-Negative Bacilli

Abstract33 patients with serious gram-negative bacillary infections were treated with cefotaxime. In patients with normal renal function the dose varied between 1.5 to 4 gday. 17 patients had urinary tract infections, 5 respiratory tract infections, 1 combined urinary tract infection and respiratory tract infection, and 10 miscellaneous infections. 16 patients had septicemia. 25 infections were due to pathogens resistant in vitro to ampicillin, cephalothin, gentamicin andor tobramycin. 15 infections had failed to respond to ampicillin, cefazolin, gentamicin or tobramycin therapy. 3233 patients responded favourably to cefotaxime (cure or improvement) but 4 patients developed superinfection with cefotaxime-resistant bacteria. No evidence of nephrotoxicity was observed except for a transient moderate rise in creatinine in one patient.