title: Comparison of ceftriaxone with cefotaxime in serious chest infections.
abstract: Ceftriaxone is a new, third-generation cephalosporin that, because of its long half-life, offers potential advantages of cost and convenience over similar agents such as cefotaxime. We compared the two drugs in a prospective, randomized study of the treatment of chest infections in seriously ill patients. Fifty-one patients (90 percent of whom were mechanically ventilated) received either ceftriaxone, 2g IV once daily, or cefotaxime, 2 g IV thrice daily, for five days. The two groups of patients appeared demographically comparable. Ceftriaxone in a single daily dose of 2 g once daily may not be satisfactory for the treatment of serious chest infections.
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Reeves
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Cade
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McDonald
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002439:Cefotaxime / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013896:Thoracic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D002443:Ceftriaxone; D002439:Cefotaxime