Abstract |
For children with acute respiratory infections in hospital, it is desirable to transfer from parenteral to oral therapy at the earliest opportunity. The introduction of a pediatric suspension of cefuroxime axetil provides a continuous course of one antibiotic with transition from injectable to oral therapy. This open study was designed to investigate the efficacy of cefuroxime in pediatric patients aged 3 months to 5 years with community-acquired pneumonia. Children had evidence of lobar pneumonia on chest X-ray, a white blood cell count of > 15,000/mm3 and a rectal temperature of > or = 38.5 degrees C on enrollment. Cefuroxime was given by i.v. injection at 75 mg/kg per day in three divided doses for 48-72 h followed by oral cefuroxime suspension at 30 mg/kg per day in two divided doses. Of 84 evaluable patients 82 (97.6%) were cured or improved post-treatment, and of 74 evaluable children who returned for follow-up assessment 73 (98.6%) remained well. Oral therapy with twice daily cefuroxime axetil suspension following 2-3 days of i.v. cefuroxime administration was confirmed as effective and safe treatment for lobar pneumonia in children under 5 years of age.
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Authors | I Shalit, R Dagan, D Engelhard, M Ephros, K Cuningham |
Journal | Israel journal of medical sciences
(Isr J Med Sci)
Vol. 30
Issue 9
Pg. 684-9
(Sep 1994)
ISSN: 0021-2180 [Print] Israel |
PMID | 8088980
(Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Multicenter Study)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Acute Disease
- Administration, Oral
- Cefuroxime
(therapeutic use)
- Child, Preschool
- Community-Acquired Infections
(blood, diagnostic imaging, drug therapy)
- Drug Administration Schedule
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Humans
- Infant
- Infusions, Intravenous
- Injections, Intravenous
- Leukocyte Count
- Male
- Pneumonia, Pneumococcal
(blood, diagnostic imaging, drug therapy)
- Prospective Studies
- Radiography
- Suspensions
- Treatment Outcome
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