The safety, efficacy, and tolerability of cefuroxime axetil suspension in infants and children receiving previous intravenous antibiotic therapy.

The tolerability, safety, and efficacy of cefuroxime axetil suspension was studied in 36 children (aged 3 mo to 12 y) who had been hospitalized for respiratory tract or soft-tissue infections. After receiving parenteral antibiotics for a mean of 3.7 days, children were discharged home to receive cefuroxime axetil suspension at doses of 10, 15, or 20 mg/kg every 8 or 12 hours for a mean of 8.2 days. One child was lost to follow-up. Three of 35 evaluated patients were withdrawn from therapy because of adverse events, one of which was a drug-related hypersensitivity reaction. Of the 32 children who completed therapy, 9 developed mild reactions including oral thrush, diarrhea, or diaper dermatitis; none were withdrawn from therapy. Complete clinical cure occurred in 28 children (80 percent); 4 (11.4 percent) were clinically improved but still required an additional antibiotic within one week of completing therapy with cefuroxime axetil suspension. This favorable tolerability and safety of cefuroxime axetil suspension warrants further efficacy trials in pediatric patients.