Treatment of obstetric and gynecologic infections with cefamandole

Cefamandole nafate is a derivative of 7-aminocephalosporanic acid which has been shown to have good in vitro activity against aerobes traditionally susceptible to cephalosporins as well as many anaerobes, including B. fragilis. One hundred women with obstetric or gynecologic infections completed treatment with cefamandole: 53 had post-cesarean section infections: 24, acute pelvic inflammatory disease: 16, posthysterectomy cuff cellulitis/abscess; and seven, vulvar or abdominal wound abscess. Almost 90% of these women had either polymicrobial aerobic/anaerobic bacterial infections or an anaerobic infection alone. Ninety women responded to cefamandole alone; in 10 cases chloramphenicol was added, but in addition five of these women required surgical therapy for eradication of infection. Mild to severe phlebitis at the infusion site that responded to conservative therapy was demonstrated in 14 women. Of 312 bacterial isolates from these women, 89% were sensitive to cefamandole at 32 microgram/ml, an easily achievable serum level; 93% of anaerobic streptococci, the most common isolates, were sensitive at 32 microgram/ml. Also, 90% of all Bacteroides species were susceptible at 32 microgram/ml; 82% of B. fragilis were susceptible at this concentration. These data indicate that cefamandole is safe and effective for treatment of women with polymicrobial pelvic infections but that approximately 5% of these women will require surgical exploration in addition to antimicrobial administration.