cefamandole and Epiglottitis

Cefamandole was evaluated for the initial management of bacterial infections in 60 infants and children. Infections included cellulitis (22), pneumonia (21), cervical lymphadenitis (8), arthritis or osteomyelitis (6), otitis media (2), and epiglottitis 91). Appropriate bacterial cultures and laboratory tests were performed for all patients. Cefamandole, 100 to 150 mg/kg/day divided into four doses given every six hours, was administered by the intravenous route. All bacterial isolates were sensitive to cefamandole, and all patients had good clinical and bacteriological responses. Duration of cefamandole therapy ranged between three and 30 days. Some of the patients' treatments were changed to specific narrow-spectrum antimicrobials after availability of the bacterial sensitivities. Cefamandole was tolerated well by most patients. Mild leukopenia and neutropenia developed in one patient and slight eosinophilia in four patients. These hematological abnormalities resolved spontaneously. These data suggest that cefamandole is an effective agent for the initial treatment of nonmeningitic infections in children.

Topics: Adolescent; Arthritis, Infectious; Bacterial Infections; Cefamandole; Cellulitis; Child; Child, Preschool; Epiglottitis; Female; Humans; Infant; Lymphadenitis; Male; Osteomyelitis; Otitis Media; Pneumonia