Abstract
Although used extensively in Europe, there is limited pediatric clinical experience with CXM in the United States. Thirty children, 4-43 mo in age received CXM, 25 mg/kg IV every 8 hr for potentially bacteremic soft tissue infections of the face, or epiglottitis. Infections treated included pre-septal (16) and buccal (12) cellulitis and epiglottitis (2). Blood cultures were positive in 18 patients: H. influenzae type b-13 (2 β-lactamase positive); S. pneumoniae-4; and β-lactamase positive, nontypable H. influenzae-1. An additional 5 patients with buccal cellulitis had negative cultures but H. influenzae type b antigenuria. All isolates were susceptible to CXM. The median MBC for the blood culture isolates was 0.5 μg/ml (range 0.008-2.0 μg/ml). A good clinical response was noted in all patients and repeat blood cultures performed on initially bacteremic patients were sterile. The mean duration of CXM therapy was 4.6±1.2 days. All patients were discharged on an appropriate oral antibiotic to complete a 10 day course of therapy. There were no clinical adverse effects or breakthrough meningitis experienced during therapy with CXM. Lab abnormalitis encountered included absolute granulocytopenia (4); thrombocytosis (3); and elevated liver functions (2). CXM appears to be a safe and effective therapy of pediatric soft tissue infections due to H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae.
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Barson, W., Powell, D., Brady, M. et al. 1063 CEFUROXIME (CXM) THERAPY OF POTENTIALLY BACTEREMIC SOFT TISSUE INFECTIONS IN CHILDREN. Pediatr Res 19, 288 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01093
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01093