Publication:

A comparative study of the efficacy and tolerability of parenteral ceftriaxone and cefotaxime in pediatric population for acute bacillary dysentery in a tertiary care hospital

Background Diarrheal disorders in childhood account for a large proportion (18%) of childhood mortality. Among diarrheal diseases, dysentery is a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality, especially in developing countries.

Methods This is an open labelled, prospective, randomised, comparative study carried out at Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Medical College Hospital, Bangalore from November 2014 to November 2015 after Institutional Ethics Committee approval. A total of 80 Paediatric patients who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study after taking written informed consent from parents and assigned into two groups, Group A- Inj. Ceftriaxone (50-100mg/kg/day) and Group B- Inj. Cefotaxime (100 mg/kg/day) in divided doses for a period of 3-5 days based on requirement.

Results In this study, Cefotaxime was non inferior to Ceftriaxone as the Mean Duration of Hospitalisation was 3.30±0.72 days in Group A and 3.30± 0.72 days in Group B with p value of 1.000, showing no statistically significant difference. Both were well tolerated without any reports of ADR (Adverse Drug Reaction).

Conclusions In this study shows that Inj. Cefotaxime is equally efficacious and well tolerated as Inj. Ceftriaxone in the treatment of Acute Bacillary Dysentery in paediatric patients.