Ceftriaxone--clinical experience in the treatment of neonates.

A group of 104 neonates with clinical signs of infection sufficient to justify treatment with penicillin plus gentamicin received instead monotherapy with ceftriaxone (50 mg/kg once daily). Bacteriological cultures from 20 babies before treatment yielded significant isolates (9 had bacteraemia). Following treatment, infecting bacteria were eradicated from 15/20 babies. Ten of the 104 babies died; all were examined post mortem. Only one death was attributed to bacterial infection. The remaining babies responded well to treatment. No adverse alteration in biochemical or haematological values was associated with ceftriaxone therapy. The incidence of diarrhoea, blood in the stools, necrotising enterocolitis or anti-coagulation problems was the same as in the babies not receiving ceftriaxone. Pharmacokinetic values were determined on 40 babies. Elimination half life (T1/2 beta) and minimum serum concentration (Cmin.) decreased and clearance increased with increasing postnatal age. Postnatal age was the single most significant factor affecting pharmacokinetics. Ceftriaxone is a safe and effective alternative to conventional therapy for infected neonates. Prolonged therapy is associated with superficial colonisation with inherently resistant bacteria.