Cefazolin treatment of bacterial infections. In vitro and in vivo evaluation

Cefazolin sodium was used to treat 20 serious bacterial infections in 19 patients, 11 of whom were infected by coagulase-positive Staphylococci. Clinical and bacteriologic success were initially obtained in 15 patients with 16 infections. 2 additional patients were cured after surgery for removal of foreign bodies and a second course of the antibiotic. 1 asplenic patient had bacteremia and died 5 days after initiating therapy with negative blood cultures and multiple abscesses. 1 patient with endocarditis relapsed 19 months after treatment with 6 weeks of cefazolin and prolonged oral antibiotics. Calculated median, trough, free drug levels were 1.5--15.3 times the minimum inhibitory concentration for 27 of 29 pathogens.