Cefaclor in the treatment of susceptible infections in infants and children.

Cefaclor is a new oral cephalosporin with in vitro activity against a wide variety of organisms including S. aureus, S. pneumoniae, S. pyogenes and H. influenzae (including ampicillin-resistant strains). Seventy-nine patients ranging in age from 2 months to 14 years with soft tissue infections (17 cases), otitis media (17), and streptococcal pharyngitis (45) were studied. They received cefaclor orally at a dose of 40 mg/kg per day in three or four divided doses for a minimum of five days. Results were generally good with favourable clinical and bacteriological responses obtained in 90% of cases. Most patients became afebrile within 48 hours after starting cefaclor. Two patients with H. influenzae cellulitis and bacteraemia defervesced within 24 hours and their blood cultures became negative promptly. Hepatic, renal and haematopoietic studies showed no adverse reactions except for an occasional increase in the eosinophil count with no clinical counterpart of hypersensitivity. Pharmacokinetic studies revealed that following a 10 mg/kg oral dose, peak serum levels of 8 micrograms/ml were observed at one hour, followed by a rather rapid tapering off so that at the end of four hours, virtually no cefaclor was detectable in serum.