Cefotaxime in the treatment of staphylococcal infections: Comparison of in vitro and in vivo studies

• Published in: Diagnostic microbiology and infectious disease 1995-05, Vol.22 (1), p.195-201
• Main Author: Aldridge, Kenneth E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibacterial agents; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Biological and medical sciences; Cefotaxime - pharmacology; Cefotaxime - therapeutic use; Cephalosporins - pharmacology; Cephalosporins - therapeutic use; Clinical Trials as Topic; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Humans; Medical sciences; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Staphylococcal Infections - drug therapy; Staphylococcal Infections - microbiology; Staphylococcus aureus - drug effects; Staphylococcus epidermidis - drug effects
• ISSN: 0732-8893; 1879-0070
• DOI: 10.1016/0732-8893(95)00051-B

Staphylococcus aureus strains are well-established pathogens that may cause mild to serious life-threatening disease. Coagulase-negative staphylococci, particularly Staphylococcus epidermidis, also have a pathogenic role in humans and cause infections primarily associated with prosthetic devices and indwelling catheters, whereas Staphylococcus saprophyticus usually causes urinary tract infections. Cefotaxime is a “third-generation” cephalosporin that is stable to the staphylococcal β-lactamases. In vitro studies over the last 15 years have shown that this patenteral cephalosporin has remained highly active (MIC 90 ranges of ≤2–8 μg/ml) against oxacillin-susceptible staphylococci. Cefotaxime therapy of staphylococcal infections has resulted in clinical curelimprovement rates ranging from 78%–100% and bacteriologic eradication rates ranging from 85%–100% in a wide variety of infections. Contrary to contemporary dogma, this “third-generation” cephalosporin appears to be efficacious against staphylococcal infections from a review of 15 years of clinical experience.