Ceftriaxone therapy in bacteremic typhoid fever

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Pharmacology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Typhoid fever, caused by Salmonella Typhi, remains a significant global health concern.
• Bacteremic typhoid fever requires effective antibiotic treatment to prevent complications and mortality.
• Ceftriaxone is a third-generation cephalosporin with broad-spectrum activity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ceftriaxone in treating patients with bacteremic typhoid fever.
• To determine optimal dosage and duration of ceftriaxone therapy for typhoid fever.
• To assess the clinical response and adverse effects of ceftriaxone treatment.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 14 patients diagnosed with bacteremic typhoid fever.
• Intravenous administration of ceftriaxone at 50-60 mg/kg/day in divided or single doses.
• Monitoring of clinical response, including defervescence, cure rates, and relapse rates.
• Measurement of peak and trough ceftriaxone concentrations against isolated Salmonella Typhi strains.

Main Results:

• A mean defervescence period of 4 days was observed after excluding specific patient cases.
• Five to eight days of ceftriaxone therapy proved adequate for patient cure.
• 13 out of 14 patients achieved cure, with one treatment failure and no relapses in monitored patients.
• Ceftriaxone levels consistently exceeded the Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) for isolated Salmonella Typhi.

Conclusions:

• Ceftriaxone is a successful treatment option for bacteremic typhoid fever in select patients.
• Advantages include a rapid clinical response and a short treatment course.
• The antibiotic exhibits a favorable safety profile with a lack of serious adverse drug reactions.