Cefotaxime in lower respiratory tract infections compared to cefazolin

Abstract

The therapeutic efficacy and safety of cefotaxime (CTAX) and cefazolin (CAZO) in patients with respiratory tract infections were evaluated in a well-controlled study carried out at 38 institutions in Japan. The patients were randomly allocated into two groups, one of which received CTAX and the other CAZO. CTAX or CAZO were intravenously drip infused b.id for 14 days at a daily dose of 4 g. A committee composed of 10 experienced doctors from 9 institutions evaluated clinical efficacy, bacteriological responses and adverse reactions. A total of 256 patients were treated with either CTAX or CAZO. Efficacy was analysed statistically for 218 patients (CTAX 111, CAZO 107) and adverse reactions were analysed for 246 patients (CTAX 123, CAZO 123). The bacteriological efficacy of CTAX was significantly superior to that of CAZO. There was no significant difference between the two drugs with regard to clinical efficacy and adverse reactions.