Salma Shaikh, Salma Shaikh, Aijaz Arain.
Six months study of cases of severe pneumonia treated with Inj. Cefuroxime (Zinacef).
Pak Paed J Jan ;21(4):171-2.

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.

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