Cefoperazone in the treatment of osteomyelitis

Twenty-six patients (aged 20 to 78 years) with osteomyelitis of the lower extremity (22) and infections of the spine (4) were treated with the broad-spectrum antibiotic cefoperazone. Staphylococcus aureus was the major pathogen isolated. A complete cure was obtained in 18 (69.2%) of the 26 patients treated; an additional four patients (15.4%) demonstrated a satisfactory clinical result without complete eradication of all baseline pathogens.