cefzil and Pneumococcal-Infections

Cefprozil is a new oral cephalosporin with activity against the most common pathogens isolated in acute otitis media. This randomized study enrolled 361 patients (mean age 29 months). Physical examination and culture via tympanocentesis were required less than 48 h before therapy. One hundred and ninety-one patients were evaluable for clinical efficacy; 99 received cefprozil (20 mg/kg/day bd) and 92 received amoxycillin/clavulanate (13.3 mg/kg/day tid). Duration of treatment was 7-9 days for 81 patients, 10 days for 105 patients and 11-16 days for five patients. The treatment groups were comparable with respect to demographics, severity of infection and number of previous episodes. Clinical evaluations of efficacy were based on physical examination including otoscopy within a 14 day period after therapy. Satisfactory clinical responses were achieved in 84% of cefprozil-treated patients and 87% of amoxycillin/clavulanate-treated patients. Pathogens most commonly isolated included Haemophilus influenzae (33%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (22%). All 361 patients were evaluable for safety. Adverse clinical events were reported in 13% (24) of cefprozil-treated patients and 20% (36) of amoxycillin/clavulanate-treated patients. Cefprozil, administered twice a day, is comparable to a regimen of amoxycillin/clavulanate three times a day in the treatment of acute otitis media in children.

Topics: Acute Disease; Amoxicillin; Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; Cefprozil; Cephalosporins; Child, Preschool; Clavulanic Acids; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Haemophilus Infections; Haemophilus influenzae; Humans; Infant; Male; Moraxella catarrhalis; Neisseriaceae Infections; Otitis Media; Pneumococcal Infections; Streptococcus pneumoniae

Cefprozil, an oral semisynthetic cephalosporin, is commonly utilized in the treatment of respiratory-tract infections in children. While this agent has provided acceptable clinical success over a number of years, this study was undertaken to better define its pharmacodynamic profile against Streptococcus pneumoniae. Nineteen clinical isolates of S. pneumoniae were utilized in the neutropenic murine thigh infection model. To simulate the pharmacokinetic profile of cefprozil in children, the renal function of mice was impaired with uranyl nitrate, and a commercially available cefprozil suspension (6 mg/kg of body weight) was administered orally every 12 h. Mice were infected with 10(6) to 10(7) CFU per thigh, and therapy was initiated 2 h later. At 0 and 24 h postinfection, thighs were harvested to determine bacterial density. Survival was assessed during 96 h of therapy. The magnitude of bacterial kill ranged from 0.5 to 4.4 log(10) CFU per thigh over 24 h, and the extent of microbial eradication was dependent on the MIC. Killing of more than 2.6 log(10) CFU per thigh was observed with MICs of < or =3 microg/ml, while either minimal killing or growth was detected with MICs of > or =4 microg/ml. Mortality in untreated control animals was 100%. Animals infected with strains for which the MICs were < or =2 microg/ml survived the infection, whereas MICs exceeding 2 microg/ml resulted in substantial mortality. These studies demonstrate the effectiveness of cefprozil against isolates of the pneumococcus for which the MICs are < or =2 microg/ml using a drug exposure typically observed in children. These data support a susceptibility breakpoint of < or =2 microg/ml for cefprozil.

Topics: Animals; Cefprozil; Cephalosporins; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Pneumococcal Infections; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Treatment Outcome

We tested 83 penicillin-intermediate (Peni) and 50 penicillin-resistant (Penr) isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae against eight oral antimicrobials. Clarithromycin's MICs (minimal inhibitory concentration) were generally the same or one to two dilutions less than those of azithromycin. Seventy-two percent of Peni isolates were susceptible to clarithromycin and azithromycin, in contrast to 42% and 40%, respectively, of Penr isolates. Cefuroxime activity exceeded that of cefprozil, which exceeded that of cefaclor, in Peni isolates. For all three cephalosporins, MICs of 90% of isolates tested were > or = 3 dilutions higher for Penr isolates than for Peni isolates. Percentages of Peni isolates susceptible to clindamycin and tetracycline were 92% and 83%, respectively, and 78% and 82% for Penr. Only 49% of Peni isolates and 4% of Penr isolates were susceptible to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Azithromycin, clarithromycin, cefuroxime, cefprozil, clindamycin, and tetracycline may be useful in treating infections caused by Peni S pneumoniae, but Penr isolates are frequently resistant to both old and newer agents.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Ambulatory Care; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Azithromycin; Cefaclor; Cefprozil; Cefuroxime; Cephalosporins; Child; Clarithromycin; Clindamycin; Culture Media; Humans; Penicillin Resistance; Pneumococcal Infections; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Tetracycline; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination

Topics: Cefprozil; Cephalosporins; Child, Preschool; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Fever; HIV Infections; Humans; Hypertrophy; Parotid Gland; Parotitis; Pneumococcal Infections; Streptococcus pneumoniae