Cefotaxime toxicity studies: a review of preclinical studies and some clinical reports

Toxicologic studies indicate that cefotaxime is well tolerated by animals. It is difficult to demonstrate acute toxicity. Subacute and chronic effects include local reactions at the site of injection, some hematologic changes with enlargement of the spleen, cecal enlargement in rats and mice, and slight changes in kidney tubules. Special studies indicate that the potential for nephrotoxicity in animals is minimal, and limited clinical reports show no nephrotoxicity in humans. In animals cefotaxime is well tolerated when combined with furosemide, gentamicin, lidocaine, or probenecid. Intrathecal or suboccipital injections of cefotaxime produce convulsions. At concentrations studied cefotaxime was not mutagenic, and no effects on fertility or teratology were observed in animals.