The use of cefotaxime for treating suspected neonatal sepsis: 2 years' experience.

In 1982, the antibiotic treatment policy for suspected sepsis in neonates admitted to the Southampton special care baby unit was changed from intravenous gentamicin plus penicillin to intravenous cefotaxime with or without penicillin. Analysis of blood culture results during the first 2 years following the change indicates that a higher proportion of blood culture isolates showed sensitivity to cefotaxime compared with gentamicin. Only one baby died with proven bacterial sepsis and this was not thought to be due to treatment failure. Our data suggest that, on our unit, cefotaxime is a suitable alternative to the aminoglycosides for the management of suspected sepsis in the newborn.