Open AccessNoncomparative, open label, multicenter trial of cefixime for treatment of bacterial pharyngitis, cystitis and pneumonia in pediatric patients
Author(s) -
William L. Risser,
Joseph S. Barone,
Phyllis A. Clark,
Dorella L. Simpkins
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
the pediatric infectious disease journal/the pediatric infectious disease journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.028
H-Index - 140
eISSN - 1532-0987
pISSN - 0891-3668
DOI - 10.1097/00006454-198710000-00043
Subject(s) - cefixime , medicine , pharyngitis , pneumonia , antibiotics , acute pharyngitis , adverse effect , cephalosporin , gastroenterology , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
Cefixime, a new third generation oral cephalosporin antibiotic, was evaluated for safety and efficacy in the treatment of 206 children with acute bacterial pharyngitis, cystitis or pneumonia. Each patient had a throat, urine or sputum culture before therapy and was treated with a 10- to 14-day course of cefixime, 8 mg/kg once daily. Bacterial pathogens were isolated in 167 of 206 (81.1%). Streptococcus pyogenes (73.7% of isolates) and Escherichia coli (9.6%) were the most common Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms, respectively. All patients were evaluable for safety, and 109 (52.9%) with pharyngitis (96) or cystitis (13) were evaluable for efficacy. Clinical failure occurred in 2 of 109 (1.8%) patients, both with pharyngitis; bacteriologic failure occurred in 1 patient with pharyngitis and 1 with cystitis. Five patients with pneumonia caused by possible pathogens also improved while taking cefixime. Drug-related adverse side effects occurred in 50 of 206 patients (24.3%); these were generally mild and led to discontinuing the antibiotic in only 4 patients (1.9%). The most common were diarrhea or loose stools (33 of 206, or 16%). Results of this study suggest that cefixime given once daily to children is safe and effective in the treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis and bacterial cystitis.