Treatment of scleroma with ceforanide
L. A. Cone, S. M. Barton and D. R. Woodard
Three patients with rhinoscleroma who presented with nasal and pharyngeal
symptoms are described. Treatment with ceforanide, a new second-generation
cephalosporin with high intrinsic activity against Klebsiella, and
possessing a long half-life, was used as outpatient treatment. A total of
120 g of ceforanide was administered over a period of two months. All three
patients showed signs of clinical improvement, but only two of three became
bacteriologically sterile at the end of two months; one patient relapsed
bacteriologically but not clinically, once the drug was discontinued.
Second- and third-generation cephalosporins appear to have excellent
activity against the causative pathogens of rhinoscleroma. Because of the
impracticality of administering these agents parenterally over prolonged
periods of time, there is a need for the development of an oral
cephalosporin with similar intrinsic activity and beta-lactamase stability.
Perhaps the novel beta-lactam antibiotics such as the penems and
monobactams, some of which can be administered orally, will answer that
need.