Clinical and bacteriological evaluation of cefoxitin therapy in children.

Cefoxitin, a parenteral cephamycin beta-lactam antibiotic, was evaluated for safety and efficacy in children with bacterial infections other than meningitis. Twentysix patients between 3 months and 7 years of age were treated with 80 to 160 mg/kg per day. The most common diagnoses were cellulitis (13 patients), pneumonia (5 patients), and bone and joint infection (4 patients). Nine patients were bacteremic. The most frequently recovered pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus (six patients), Haemophilus influenzae (four patients), and Streptococcus pneumoniae (three patients). All organisms were susceptible to cefoxitin. All 26 children were considered improved or cured. No severe adverse reactions were encountered. Phlebitis (4%), eosinophilia (12%), and elevated liver function tests (4%) were associated with therapy. Cefoxitin appears to be a safe, effective, and well-tolerated antibiotic when used in children with susceptible bacterial infections other than meningitis.