Intramuscular cefoxitin.

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Pharmacology
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Cefoxitin is a cephalosporin antibiotic with broad-spectrum activity.
• Intravenous administration is a common route for cefoxitin therapy.
• Alternative administration routes are being explored for patient convenience and treatment flexibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intramuscular cefoxitin for mild to moderate infections.
• To determine the clinical and bacteriologic outcomes of intramuscular cefoxitin therapy.
• To assess patient tolerance and safety of intramuscular cefoxitin, particularly regarding pain and adverse events.

Main Methods:

• A total of 102 patients with mild or moderate infections received intramuscular cefoxitin.
• Cefoxitin (1 g) was diluted in 0.5% or 1.0% lidocaine and administered four times daily.
• Clinical and bacteriologic outcomes were assessed in 79 patients; safety and tolerance were evaluated in all 102 patients.

Main Results:

• High cure or improvement rates were observed: 45/47 (skin/soft tissue), 16/16 (lower respiratory tract), and 10/12 (urinary tract infections).
• The intramuscular preparation was well-tolerated, with 96% of patients reporting no pain.
• Adverse events included one case of acute tubular necrosis and 7% incidence of eosinophilia.

Conclusions:

• Intramuscular cefoxitin is an effective and safe alternative for treating mild to moderate infections.
• It can be used for initial treatment, continuation therapy, or for specific conditions like diabetic foot ulcers.
• This route provides a convenient option compared to intravenous administration when appropriate.