cefamandole and Pressure-Ulcer

Forty-seven adults with infected cutaneous lesions including decubitus ulcers, leg ulcers, cellulitis, pyoderma, and infected dermatitis were treated in a randomized single-blind study with ceftizoxime (2 gm/day, administered intravenously) or cefamandole (4 gm/day, administered intravenously). The duration of treatment ranged from five to 17 days with ceftizoxime and from six to 14 days with cefamandole. Both gram-positive cocci (mostly Staphylococcus sp) and gram-negative bacilli were cultured from the infected areas before treatment. Clinical and bacteriological responses to both drugs were excellent. Ceftizoxime at a dosage of 1 gm twice daily proved to be at least as effective as 1 gm of cefamandole given four times daily. Both drugs were well tolerated, effective, and safe in the treatment of skin and skin-structure infections. Neither drug therapy had to be discontinued because of adverse effects.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Cefamandole; Cefotaxime; Ceftizoxime; Cellulitis; Clinical Trials as Topic; Dermatitis; Female; Humans; Male; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Middle Aged; Pressure Ulcer; Proteus Infections; Proteus mirabilis; Psoriasis; Pyoderma; Random Allocation; Skin Diseases, Infectious; Staphylococcal Infections; Time Factors

The response of serious skin and skin structure infections to ceforanide 1 gm every twelve hours or cefazolin 1 gm every eight hours was evaluated in ninety-six patients hospitalized for treatment. Most of the patients had decubitus ulcers; predominant pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Proteus mirabilis. Ceforanide produced a satisfactory clinical response in 89 percent (forty-eight of fifty-four) of the patients evaluated and eradicated 90 percent (seventy-four of eighty-two) of the pathogens. Although the clinical response of forty-two cefazolin-treated patients was similar (satisfactory response in 86 percent, thirty-six patients), only 81 percent (forty-eight of fifty-nine) of the pathogens were eradicated. Both ceforanide and cefazolin were very well tolerated systemically and locally.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Bacterial Infections; Cefamandole; Cefazolin; Clinical Trials as Topic; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pressure Ulcer; Skin Diseases, Infectious