Pulmonary infections in elderly patients: treatment with cefazolin.
The effects of cefazolin were studied in 15 hospital patients (average age, 67) with respiratory-tract infections. The infections were chiefly bronchopneumonia caused by organisms such as D. pneumoniae, Staph. aureus, or E. coli. In 13 of the 15 patients the results were excellent to good (eradication of the primary pathogen and clinical improvement); in the other 2 patients the response was fair. Intramuscular injection was well tolerated and only one patient complained of pain at the site of injection; no other adverse clinical effects were observed. In the laboratory determinations, including liver and kidney function tests, the only abnormalities were 2 cases in which the Coombs' test gave positive results without hemolysis. Cefazolin seems to be a safe and effective antibiotic for the treatment of respiratory-tract infections caused by cefazolin-susceptible organisms.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D001996:Bronchopneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013440:Sulfides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013830:Thiadiazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
D002511:Cephalosporins; D013440:Sulfides; D013777:Tetrazoles; D013830:Thiadiazoles