Therapy of skin, soft tissue, and bone infections with cefoxitin sodium

Twenty-seven patients with skin and soft tissue infections, including three with contiguous osteomyelitis, were given cefoxitin intravenously or intramuscularly; the infections of 25 (93%) were resolved with cefoxitin therapy. Etiologic agents included staphylococci, streptococci, Enterobacteriaceae, and anaerobes. Susceptible pathogens were inhibited by less than or equal to 8 micrograms of cefoxitin/ml. This level of drug was surpassed by mean peak serum concentrations eight- to 12-fold after intravenous infusions and two- to threefold after intramuscular injections and resulted in eradication of susceptible organisms from lesions during treatment. Intravenously administered cefoxitin was well tolerated, although eosinophilia, phlebitis, elevation of levels of hepatic enzymes, and a positive direct Coombs' test were observed. Intramuscular injections of cefoxitin in 0.5% lidocaine caused pain and induration and thus were poorly tolerated.