Temocillin in the treatment of chest infections

In our study, 16 patients with acute infection complicating severe respiratory disease were treated with temocillin 2g or 3g daily for 5 to 10 days. In 10 patients, a recognised respiratory pathogen, either Haemophilus influenzae (temocillin-sensitive) or Streptococcus pneumoniae (temocillin-resistant), was isolated from sputum before the start of treatment. 13 patients improved clinically but 5 subsequently relapsed. Two patients failed to respond, and 1 died of respiratory failure. There was no clearcut relationship between the clinical progress and sensitivity of the isolated pathogen to temocillin, and there were no adverse effects associated with the administration of temocillin.