Cefotaxime: efficacy and tolerance in lower respiratory tract infections caused by gram-positive cocci.

Cefotaxime is an effective antibiotic in lower respiratory tract infection caused by streptococci and staphylococci. There is a limited tendency to superinfections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1.5%) and there is a low incidence of side-effects. It is questionable whether there is really an urgent need for cefotaxime in gram-positive lower respiratory tract infections.