Six months study of cases of severe pneumonia treated with inl: cefuroxime [zinacef]

ABSTRACT

All cases of 2 months to 5 years classified as severe pneumonia according to ARI programme were included in the study. 52 cases of severe pneumonia were treated with Inj cefuroxime during the study period of G months Oct. 96 to March 97. The purpose of study was to 1] determine efficacy of cefurxime [ZINACEF] in the treatment of severe pneumonia and to compare ii] cost of treatment of cefuroxime with chloramphenicol mid third generation cephalosporins, iii] compare clinical efficacy of cefuroxime with chloramphenicol. 41/52 cases i.e. [78.84%] were below 1 year and 11/52 i.e. [21.15%] were between 1-3 yrs old. All cases were treated with inj cefuroxime 100mg/kg in 3 divided doses. The response to treatment was good in 30/52 i.e. [57,69%] with recovery in 5 days, while slow clinical response was documented in 14/52 i.e. [26.92%] where treatment was continued for 7 days. In 6/52 cases [11.53%] antibiotic was changed due to lack of response within 48 hrs. Mortality rate was 2/52 i.e. [3.84%]. The study concludes that response of severe pneumonia to cefuroxime [84.61%] is comparable to that of chloramphenicol [89.70%] as reported in our previous study. The cost of cefuroxime is 4 time that of chloramphenicol therapy but it may be safer in so far as incidence of aplastie anaemia is concerned