Cephalexin monohydrate suspension. Treatment of otitis media.

Cephalexin monohydrate suspension was used in the treatment of 97 children with otitis media. Pretreatment middle-ear exudate specimens in pure or mixed culture yielded Diplococcus pneumoniae in 47 cases, Haemophilus influenzae in 26, Neisseria catarrhalis in 20, group A beta-hemolytic streptococci in 13, and Staphylococcus aureus in one. The usual dosage was 100 mg/kg/day given orally in divided doses for 10 to 12 days. After 48 hours of treatment, follow-up cultures showed that therapy had been successful in 90 children; 81 remained clinically and bacteriologically free of disease for at least three weeks following therapy. Of the seven children for whom therapy failed, H influenzae persisted in five and D pneumoniae in two. Acceptance of the drug was entirely satisfactory with no important side effects encountered.