Clinical comparative study on the activity of cefamandole in the treatment of serious staphylococcal infections caused by methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant strains

Ninety-two microbiologically documented staphylococcal infections were treated with cefamandole in an open comparative study on the clinical efficacy of this cephalosporin in the therapy of infections caused by both methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. The majority of the episodes (86 of 92) were treated with cefamandole alone, and six were treated with cefamandole in association with other antibiotics. In the evaluable S. aureus infections, 34 of 46 (73.9%) due to methicillin-susceptible strains and 12 of 16 (75%) due to methicillin-resistant strains responded to therapy. In particular, among the patients infected by methicillin-susceptible S. aureus 6 of 9 cases of septicemia, 0 of 2 cases of endocarditis, 2 of 2 cases of pneumonia, 2 of 3 osteoarticular infections, 8 of 12 cases of peritonitis in patients with chronic renal failure in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), 13 of 15 skin-soft tissue infections, and 3 of 3 urinary tract infections responded to therapy. Among those due to methicillin-resistant strains, cure was achieved in 2 of 4 cases of septicemia, 0 of 1 case of endocarditis, 9 of 10 skin-soft tissue infections, and 1 of 1 urinary tract infection. In the evaluable infections caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci, 9 of 11 (81.8%) due to methicillin-susceptible and 15 of 17 (88.2%) due to methicillin-resistant strains responded to therapy. In particular, among patients infected by methicillin-susceptible, coagulase-negative staphylococci, 4 of 4 cases of septicemia, 0 of 1 case of endocarditis, 1 of 1 case of pneumonia, 1 of 1 case of peritonitis in CAPD, 2 of 3 infections of skin-soft tissue, and 1 of 1 urinary tract infection responded to therapy. Among patients infected by methicillin-resistant, coagulase-negative staphylococci were cured 5 of 6 cases os septicemia, 6 of 6 cases of peritonitis (in CAPD), 4 of 4 infections of skin-soft tissue, and 0 of 1 urinary tract infection.