[Activity of cefapirin against bacterial strains isolated from acute otitis media in children].

The antibacterial activity of cefapirin was tested against 210 strains isolated from the auricular exudate of childrens' acute otitis media. For 112 strains of Haemophilus studied (20% secreted a beta-lactamase), the MIC 50 and 90 of cefapirin were 2 and 4 mg/l respectively. Ten strains of Branhamella catarrhalis were tested (9 secreted a beta-lactamase) and the MIC ranged from 0.25 to 4 mg/l. Against Streptococcus pneumoniae, cefapirin has an extremely high activity with MIC 50 and 90 less than 0.06 mg/l. Of the strains of Staphylococcus aureus sensitive to meticillin, one had a MIC less than 0.06 mg/l, and 11 had a MIC = 0.25 mg/l. For 14 strains of Enterobacteriaceae studied, we obtained a MIC 50 of 8 mg/l and a MIC 90 of 32 mg/l. The results show that cefapirin is an antibiotic particularly suitable for the treatment of acute otitis media.