Multicenter study of the in vitro activity of cefepime in comparison with five other broad-spectrum antibiotics against clinical isolates of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria from hospitalized patients in Switzerland.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the in vitro susceptibility of clinical isolates to cefepime and five other antimicrobial agents with broad-spectrum activity.
METHODS: The minimal inhibitory concentrations of 1521 Gram-positive cocci and 3170 Gram-negative rods were determined by the Etest procedure.
RESULTS: The susceptibilities were as follows. Gram-positive bacteria: cefepime, 92.7%; ceftazidime, 60.5%; ceftriaxone, 87.8%; imipenem, 92.6%; amikacin, 56.5%; ciprofloxacin, 72.5%. Gram-negative bacteria: cefepime, 97.8%; ceftazidime, 94.3%; ceftriaxone, 83.1%; imipenem, 95.7%; amikacin, 96.6%; ciprofloxacin, 95.8%.
CONCLUSIONS: Cefepime had the best activity when compared with the other broad-spectrum beta-lactams ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, imipenem, and the non-beta-lactams amikacin and ciprofloxacin.