In vitro activity of cefpodoxime against bacterial isolates obtained from patients with cancer.

The in vitro activity of cefpodoxime, an oral cephalosporin ester, against 792 bacterial isolates representing 36 species was evaluated in comparison to that of ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX). Cefpodoxime inhibited the majority of Streptococcus spp., Haemophilus influenzae and Proteus mirabilis at a concentration of less than or equal to 0.12 microgram/ml. It was also active against Citrobacter diversus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Proteus vulgaris, Serratia marcescens and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus isolates. Overall, cefpodoxime appeared to be less active than ciprofloxacin and TMP/SMX against many pathogens common in cancer patients.