The use of cefotaxime in the treatment of gram-positive pneumonias.

A single-blind, prospective, randomized comparison of cefotaxime and cefazolin was conducted in 356 patients with gram-positive pneumonias. Clinical cure was achieved in 95.9% of patients receiving cefotaxime and 94% of patients receiving cefazolin. In a sub-group of patients with Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia, clinical cure was obtained in 31 of 37 patients treated with cefotaxime and all of six patients treated with cefazolin. Cefotaxime was well tolerated, safe, and efficacious. These data support the use of cefotaxime as an initial single antibiotic in treating patients with gram-positive pneumonias due to susceptible organisms.