Comparative activity of newer antibiotics against gram-negative bacilli

The in vitro activities of cefoperazone, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, azlocillin, mezlocillin, piperacillin, ticarcillin/clavulanate, aztreonam, imipenem, and ciprofloxacin were concurrently determined against over 1,000 isolates of gram-negative bacilli from clinical specimens of patients at the Cleveland Clinic. Cephalosporins, penicillins, and aztreonam were active against species of Enterobacteriaceae other than Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter aerogenes, and Enterobacter cloacae. Ceftazidime was the most active cephalosporin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Against the Enterobacteriaceae, the rank order of activity of penicillins was ticarcillin/clavulanate greater than piperacillin greater than mezlocillin greater than azlocillin. Against P. aeruginosa, the rank order of activity of penicillins was piperacillin greater than ticarcillin/clavulanate greater than azlocillin greater than mezlocillin. Aztreonam was less active v P. aeruginosa than ceftazidime, cefoperazone, or piperacillin. The most active antimicrobials against all isolates tested were imipenem and ciprofloxacin.