Interchangeability of ceftizoxime and cefoxitin: a clinical perspective.
Ceftizoxime and cefoxitin, two parenteral broad-spectrum cephalosporin antibiotics, were compared in a prospective, randomized, double-blind study to determine if they are clinically equivalent in the treatment of infections of the urinary or respiratory tracts, the intra-abdominal cavity, or skin and skin structure. Since the pharmacokinetic properties of ceftizoxime permit less frequent dosing than cefoxitin and, in consequence, lower daily doses, a second objective was to compare the cost of intravenous use of these antibiotics in hospital practice. Patients were assigned at random to treatment with either 4 to 8 gm/day of cefoxitin or 2 to 4 gm/day of ceftizoxime. Within each treatment group, they were stratified according to the site of the infection. Cure rates were similar with ceftizoxime (96% of 134 patients) and cefoxitin (92% of 132 patients). There were no statistically significant differences with respect to site or severity of infection. An analysis of the cost of the drugs and the labor to administer them showed ceftizoxime to be less expensive ($263 to $389/day) than cefoxitin ($394 to $638/day).
U.S. Medical Affairs and Clinical Development, SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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Wikler
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002440:Cefoxitin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015296:Ceftizoxime / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D013810:Therapeutic Equivalency
D002440:Cefoxitin; D015296:Ceftizoxime