Therapy of lower respiratory tract infections: a comparison of ceftriaxone and cefotaxime

Abstract

The objectives of this open, prospective, randomized and comparative study were to evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of intravenous ceftriaxone (active ingredient of Rocephin) and cefotaxime in treatment of bacterial pneumoniae. Forty-three patients were enrolled in the study and in 40 (21 in the ceftriaxone group and 19 in the cefotaxime group) we were able to make an evaluation. Bacteriological results were essentially based on a positive culture obtained with transtracheal aspirate (TTA) - 34 out of 40 cases; in the remaining patients, at least an initial positive sputum culture was obtained. Most of the lower respiratory tract infections were secondary to previous chronic respiratory diseases or were nosocomial infections; 25 out of 40 cases were considered to be severe or critical situations. The overall efficacy (bacteriological eradication plus clinical cure or clear improvement) of ceftriaxone and cefotaxime were 90.5% (19/21) and 73.7% (14/19), respectively (p less than 0.05). The tolerability of both drugs was good: 16 (76.2%) patients in the ceftriaxone group and 12 (63.2%) in the cefotaxime group had no adverse events, while in 5 and 7 patients, respectively, tolerability was considered satisfactory (minor side effects, none of which required discontinuation or even reduction of dosage).