Clinical experience of cefotaxime in infections caused by gram-positive pathogens.

We studied the activity of cefotaxime both microbiologically and clinically. 138 blood cultures positive for gram-positive cocci were evaluated (90 strains of Staphylococcus aureus, 25 of Streptococcus faecalis, 13 of Streptococcus alpha and ten of Streptococcus mutans). Cefotaxime showed good activity against all strains with the exception of S. mutans, of which only 30% were sensitive. Ten cases of gram-positive infections were studied clinically: six sepsis cases and one endocarditis case due to S. aureus, two sepsis cases caused by Streptococcus alpha and one Enterococcus endocarditis case. Therapy was successful in nine; the S. aureus endocarditis failed. The local and general tolerance of cefotaxime was good.