Cefotaxime therapy of serious bacterial infection in adults.

We evaluated the efficacy, safety, and tolerance of cefotaxime in 35 adults (25 with pleuropulmonary infections, 7 with genitourinary tract infections, and 3 with soft tissue infections). Of these 35 patients, 18 (51.4%) were seriously or critically ill. In vitro susceptibility testing revealed that 90.4% of the pathogens isolated were susceptible to cefotaxime (minimal inhibitory concentration, less than 8 micrograms/ml), 4.8% were intermediately susceptible (minimal inhibitory concentration, 8 to 32 micrograms/ml), and 4.8% were resistant (minimal inhibitory concentration, greater than 32 micrograms/ml). A total of 34 of the 35 patients (97%) were clinically and bacteriologically cured of their infections. Adverse reactions occurred in two patients, but these reactions did not require interruption of therapy.