The safety and efficacy of
flomoxef and
latamoxef were compared in the treatment of hospitalized patients with
sepsis and/or Gram-negative
bacteremia in a prospective, open-labelled clinical trial. Patients were randomized to receive 1 to 2 g intravenous doses of either
flomoxef every 6 to 12 h, or
latamoxef every 8 to 12 h. Data from 21 patients given
flomoxef and 23 patients given
latamoxef were included in the evaluation of efficacy.
Flomoxef produced clinical cure and satisfactory microbiological responses in 85.7% and 100% of patients, respectively. These results were similar to those obtained with
latamoxef (87% and 100%, respectively). In addition, no significant difference was found in mean age, sex, severity of
infection, distribution of pathogens and focus of
infection between the two groups. However, the
flomoxef group included more patients with ultimately fatal diseases. Six patients given
flomoxef and two patients given
latamoxef developed
superinfections caused by yeast, enterococci and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the urinary tract. Mild and reversible adverse reactions probably related to
flomoxef and
latamoxef were noted in 14.3% and 13% of patients, respectively. The results of this study demonstrated that
flomoxef is a safe and effective
antimicrobial agent in the treatment of patients with
sepsis and/or Gram-negative
bacteremia.