Effect of cefotetan in clindamycin-induced enterocolitis in hamsters

In hamsters the administration of clindamycin provokes a fatal diarrhea and death in 1-2 days. This study was performed in order to assess the possible protective effect of three cephalosporins in clindamycin-induced enterocolitis in these laboratory animals. The efficacy of cefotetan was compared with that of cefoxitin and latamoxef: the hamsters were treated twice daily for 5 days with clindamycin (10 mg/kg) by oral route, and cefotetan, cefoxitin and latamoxef (100 mg/kg) were given subcutaneously. All animals developed "wet-tail syndrome", but cefotetan and latamoxef were able to protect a large percentage of hamsters from death and to prolong the survival time.