Moxalactam in the Treatment of Pediatric Infections

The clinical efficacy and safety of the new oxacephalosporin moxalactam disodium were evaluated in 54 children with a variety of pediatric infections. Except for a terminally ill neutropenic leukemic patient with pneumonia and sepsis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa who died shortly after initiation of therapy, moxalactam treatment was effective in all patients. No recurrent infections were observed. The rate of clinical response to moxalactam appeared to be at least comparable to that of patients treated with traditional antibiotics. In vitro sensitivity testing demonstrated that all bacteria isolated except P aeruginosa were sensitive to moxalactam while Haemophilus influenzae was exquisitely sensitive. Side effects included thrombocytosis (five patients), transient SGPT elevations and eosinophilia (three each), fever with rash (one), and neutropenia (one). In one patient, superinfection with Streptococcus faecalis developed. We conclude that moxalactam may be a useful antibiotic in pediatrics, particularly for the treatment of infections due to H influenzae and Enterobacteriaceae. Its role in infections caused by group B streptococcus and Pseudomonas awaits further studies.