Cefsulodin treatment for serious Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections

Cefsulodin, a narrow-spectrum cephalosporin with excellent antipseudomonal activity was used to treat 48 patients with 51 Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. These included osteomyelitis, infected prostheses, post-operative and post-traumatic superficial wounds, decubitus and stasis ulcers, lower respiratory tract infections and infections of the urinary tract. Many of the patients were compromised by underlying debilitating conditions such as severe trauma, diabetes mellitus, vascular impairment, and abuse of alcohol and drugs. In cases of polymicrobial infections, a concomitant non-antipseudomonal antibiotic was sometimes administered. Cefsulodin was administered intravenously to 47 patients and by intramuscular injections to one individual. The dosage ranged from 0.5 to 2.0 g every six hr and duration of therapy was from 4 to 70 days. A satisfactory clinical response was observed in 88% of the patients. P. aeruginosa was eradicated from 76% of the infection sites. Failures, which included relapse within one year, were generally associated with prior severe trauma or vascular impairment in cases of osteomyelitis. Reinfections and superinfections developed in 12 individuals. Adverse reactions reported for two patients were nausea and vomiting. A third patient had transient increases in alkaline phosphatase and SGOT. These data indicate that cefsulodin is an effective and safe antibiotic in various types of P. aeruginosa infections.