A perspective on new beta-lactam antibiotics in pediatric patients

With additional experience, it is likely that new cephalosporins will replace ampicillin and chloramphenicol as initial therapy for meningitis of infants and children. At present, the author prefers the combination of ampicillin and moxalactam or cefotaxime alone for infants from one to three months of age, when the etiologic bacteria are varied. The new cephalosporins are preferred therapy for the rare strains of H. influenzae resistant to ampicillin and chloramphenicol, and can be used in place of chloramphenicol in any situation in which there are clinical reasons to avoid use of chloramphenicol.