Clinical use of cefoxitin, a new semisynthetic cephamycin.

Cefoxitin, a new semi-synthetic cephamycin, has been studied in the treatment of patients with a variety of infections. Included have been a number of patients who have impaired renal function. The drug proved to be effective in treating gram-positive, gram-negative and anaerobic infections, and can be given by the intravenous or intramuscular route. Adverse effects occurred in six of 34 patients. These were not usually serious. The presence of renal failure did not interfere significantly with the efficacy of cefoxitin in treating urinary tract infection and it is considered, in contrast to the aminoglycosides, that this preparation can be used successfully without the necessity for measuring blood or urine levels in patients with reduced or unknown renal function.