Study of cefotaxime twice daily for the therapy of postoperative pneumonia. The German Cefotaxime Study Group.

A total of 548 patients with postoperative pneumonia were treated with 1 or 2 g cefotaxime twice daily. Of the 88 patients without serious underlying diseases who received the 1-g 12-h dosage regimen, all were considered to be clinically cured, and all 54 isolated pathogens were eradicated or presumed to be eradicated. In the group with severe infection or severe underlying disease receiving 2 g 12-h cefotaxime, the overall clinical success rate (cured plus improved) was 98.4%. Results from this study support the use of cefotaxime as an alternative to empiric monotherapy for nosocomial pneumonia in surgical-service patients who are not neutropenic or on long-term artificial ventilation.