Cefotaxime is considered appropriate therapy in the following situations.

1. Infection with culture-proved organisms resistant to other cephalosporins for which aminoglycosides are the only agent which otherwise could be used.

2. Empirically when there is clinical suspicion of infection with more than one type of organism requiring combination therapy (i.e. gentamicin and clindamycin). Use in this manner should initiate lab studies or appropriate surgery as indicated.

To include:

1. Presumptive or proven intra-abdominal sepsis

2. Systemic sepsis of presumptive or proven intra-abdominal trauma or perforated intra-abdominal sepsis.

(Do not use in above for suspected B. fragilis or Ps. aeruginosa as other agents are available which are more effective).

3. Empirically in surgical cases involving penetrating abdominal trauma or perforated intra-abdominal sepsis.

4. Gram-negative bacillary meningitis.

5. Prophylaxis in biliary obstruction and radiological biliary drainage procedures.

Dose:

500 mg to 1 gram every six hours.

In septicemias — maximum of 12 grams per day.