ONCE-DAILY CEFTRIAXONE IN THE OUTPATIENT TREATMENT OF PEDIATRIC INFECTIONS

Parenteral ceftriaxone was administered as a once-daily outpatient treatment to a selected low-risk population of neonates, infants, and children with moderate to severe bacterial infections. No incidences of treatment failure were seen in 200 children with uncomplicated infections responsive to ceftriaxone therapy. The mean period of outpatient treatment in initially hospitalized children with non-CNS infections, excluding endocarditis, was 1-3 days. Ceftriaxone outpatient management was successful in the control of organisms causing meningitis (n = 54), periorbital facial cellulitis (n = 16), sinusitis (n = 10), arthritis (n = 6), endocarditis (n = 4), and other infections.