Third-generation cephalosporins in the treatment of rare infections

Cephalosporins--cefotaxime 10 years later, a major drug with continued use

Cefotaxime has in the past decade proved to be a most useful agent. It has established the efficacy and safety suggested in the early in vitro, pharmacological and clinical papers. It remains an excellent agent to treat many community and hospital-acquired respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, meningitis, particularly in pediatrics, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and selected abdominal and gynecological infections.

Third generation cephalosporins: safety profiles after 10 years of clinical use

Compared with aminoglycosides, chloramphenicol, sulfonamides, tetracyclines, and even penicillins, the cephalosporins represent a remarkably safe class of antibiotics. Among the cephalosporins, the extended spectrum, third generation agents developed generally produce few side effects and appear to be less allergenic than the penicillins. Nephrotoxicity has not been a problem at recommended doses. Some third generation agents can cause hypoprothrombinemia if not administered with vitamin K, and disulfiram-like reactions occur with some agents because of the presence of a thiomethyl tetruzole moiety affixed to the cephem nucleus. There is a greater incidence of diarrhea associated with the agents excreted through a primarily biliary route, and this may contribute to the selection of drug resistant bacteria. Some agents are less active against staphylococci and their use may result in an increased incidence of superinfection or overgrowth of enterococci. If attention is given to the potential for adverse effects, many of these problems can be avoided and the third generation cephalosporins can be used safely in hospitals, nursing homes, and home care settings.