CEFUROXIME EFFICACY IN PNEUMONIA - SEQUENTIAL SHORT-COURSE-IV ORAL SUSPENSION THERAPY

For children with acute respiratory infections in hospital, it is desi rable to transfer from parenteral to oral therapy at the earliest oppo rtunity. The introduction of a pediatric suspension of cefuroxime axet il provides a continuous course of one antibiotic with transition from injectable to oral therapy. This open study was designed to investiga te the efficacy of cefuroxime in pediatric patients aged 3 months to 5 years with community-acquired pneumonia. Children had evidence of lob ar pneumonia on chest X-ray, a white blood cell count of >15,000/mm(3) and a rectal temperature of greater than or equal to 38.5 degrees C o n enrollment. Cefuroxime was given by i.v. injection at 75 mg/kg per d ay in three divided doses for 48-72 h followed by oral cefuroxime susp ension at 30 mg/kg per day in two divided doses. Of 84 evaluable patie nt 82 (97.6%) were cured or improved post-treatment, and of 74 evaluab le children who returned for follow-up assessment 73 (98.6%) remained well. Oral therapy with twice daily cefuroxime axetil suspension follo wing 2-3 days of i.v. cefuroxime administration was confirmed as effec tive and safe treatment for lobar pneumonia in children under 5 years of age.