cefotaxime and Dermatitis

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

A 3-yr-old female Korean native black-bone fowl weighing 1 kg presented with refractory dermatosis characterized by hyperkeratosis and alopecia on the head, neck, and scapular region. Antibiotic therapy before referral had not reduced the severity of lesions. Histopathologic findings revealed hyperkeratosis, acantholysis, heterophil infiltration, and ballooning degeneration in the epidermis. Immunohistochemical analysis showed immunoglobulin G deposits in the intercellular spaces of the intermediate layer of the epidermis. Based on these observations, this case was diagnosed as a pemphigus-like immune-mediated dermatosis. The administration of prednisolone eliminated the lesions, and the feathers grew back partially.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bird Diseases; Cefotaxime; Dermatitis; Epidermis; Female; Galliformes; Immunoglobulin G; Immunosuppressive Agents; Pemphigus; Prednisolone

Seven wild-caught ball pythons (Python regius), including six gravid females and one male, were obtained from Africa and were housed in a government animal facility in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Upon arrival, the snakes were found to be infested with ticks (Aponomma latus), which were manually removed. Four weeks following arrival, vesicular skin lesions began to appear on the snakes. Despite treatment of all affected female snakes with amikacin (5 mg/kg i.m., every 3 days) and cefotaxime (25 mg/kg i.m., every 3 days), the condition progressed and five of the female snakes died 7 wk after arrival. The remaining male and one female improved after an increase in environmental temperature, with ecdysis followed by healing. Physiologic stress, ectoparasites, and shipping may have predisposed the snakes to sepsis.

Topics: Amikacin; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Boidae; Cefotaxime; Cephalosporins; Dermatitis; Disease Outbreaks; Fatal Outcome; Female; Male; Proteus Infections; Proteus vulgaris; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Pseudomonas Infections; Skin Diseases, Infectious