Ceftizoxime in the treatment of urinary tract infections

Ceftizoxime, a new beta-lactamase-resistant, semisynthetic antibiotic, was compared to cefamandole in a prospective randomized trial to determine its efficacy and safety in 21 patients with acute, complicated urinary tract infections. Four patients randomized initially to receive cefamandole were found to have resistant organisms and were treated with ceftizoxime. Dosage for ceftizoxime was 1 gm. administered parenterally every 12 hours, while 1 gm. cefamandole was given every 6 hours. Urine cultures were obtained before the initiation of therapy, on day 4, after completion of therapy and 4 to 6 weeks after therapy. Specified laboratory tests were obtained. Of 14 patients receiving ceftizoxime 11 (79 per cent) and of 7 patients receiving cefamandole 7 (100 per cent) had negative cultures at the completion of therapy and 4 to 6 weeks later. No patient had any adverse reaction to ceftizoxime. Ceftizoxime is a safe and effective antibiotic agent when used as a single agent for complicated urinary tract infections. However, ceftizoxime is much more expensive than cefamandole therapy. Therefore, it is recommended that ceftizoxime be reserved for treatment of urinary tract infections stemming from pathogenic species resistant to the less expensive antimicrobials.