[Susceptibility of bacteria to selected cephalosporins of the II and III generation].

Susceptibility of 1893 strains of bacteria responsible for infections in children treated in the Institute of Mother and Child in 1991 was investigated. Sensitivity to cefuroxime, cefamandole, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone and ceftazidime were tested by application of discs produced by Bio-Mérieux. MIC for cefuroxime against selected clinical strains was determined by a solid medium dilution method. Cefamandole in comparison with cefuroxime was more effective for S. aureus (94.7%), coagulase-negative staphylococci (93.1%), P. rettger (87.5%), M. morganii (76.9%) and P. vulgaris (63.6%). Cefuroxime was more active against P. mirabilis and C. freundii. Percentages of Enterobacteriaceae and Gram-positive cocci sensitive to III generation cephalosporins were high and amounted to 60-100%. Cefotaxime was active against higher percentages of S. marcescens (94.1%), C. freundii (76.0%), K. pneumoniae (54.8%), S. aureus (79.0%) and coagulase-negative staphylococci (82.2%) when compared with ceftazidime and ceftriaxone. P. aeruginosa, other non-fermenting Gram-negative bacteria and A. calcoaceticus were most susceptible to ceftazidime. Comparison of MIC50 and MIC ranges for cefotaxime and cefuroxime indicates significantly higher activity of cefotaxime toward all tested strains of Enterobacteriaceae.