title: Comparative efficacy and safety of ceftizoxime, cefotaxime and latamoxef in the treatment of bacterial pneumonia in high risk patients.
abstract: One hundred and thirty-five patients with bacterial pneumonia who had risk factors (alcoholism, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, corticosteroid therapy diabetes mellitus, advanced age, solid tumours) were randomly allocated in a double-blind fashion to receive either ceftizoxime (2-4 g every 8 h), cefotaxime (1-2 g every 4 h), or latamoxef (2-4 g every 8 h). Of the 84 patients evaluable for efficacy, clinical cure was achieved in 91%, 85%, and 89% of ceftizoxime- (20/22), cefotaxime-(23/27), and latamoxef-treated (31/35) patients, respectively. Adverse reactions occurred in one of 45 ceftizoxime-treated patients, one of 43 cefotaxime-treated patients, and seven of 47 latamoxef-treated patients. Abnormal laboratory values during therapy were seen in 50% of latamoxef-treated and 43% of cefotaxime-treated patients and in 29% of ceftizoxime-treated patients. Hypoprothrombinaemia occurred in five latamoxef-treated patients and one of these patients experienced an episode of haematemesis. In this study, ceftizoxime, cefotaxime, and latamoxef were similarly effective; however, the incidence of side effects was most frequent with latamoxef.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002439:Cefotaxime / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015296:Ceftizoxime; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009070:Moxalactam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D015296:Ceftizoxime; D002439:Cefotaxime; D009070:Moxalactam