Comparison of ceftriaxone with cefotaxime in serious chest infections.
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.
Reeves
J H
JH
Intensive Care Unit, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria, Australia.
Russell
G M
GM
Cade
J F
JF
McDonald
M
M
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*
D002443:Ceftriaxone; D002439:Cefotaxime