1180 MOXALACTAM USE IN INFANTS: LACK OF BLEEDING COMPLICATIONS

Moxalactam sodium is a semisynthetic oxa-beta-lactam antibiotic with a broad spectrum of activity against gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms. Coagulopathy has been associated with use of this antibiotic in adults, but similar information is lacking in infants. Moxalactam in combination with ampicillin was used in the treatment of 63 infants with suspected bacterial sepsis. Antibiotic dosages were moxalactam 100–150 mg/kg/day and ampicillin 100 mg/kg/day depending upon the age of the infant. Ages of these infants ranged from 1–47 days. Microorganisms recovered from blood cultures included: group B streptococcus (2), E. coli, Klebsiella sp., Serratia marcescens and Staphylococcus aureus. A prolonged prothrombin time was noted in the infant with E. coli sepsis. No other infant demonstrated bleeding abnormalities (decreased prothrombin, increased bleeding time or thrombocytopenia). Moxalactam remains an acceptable antibiotic when used in combination with ampicillin for treating suspected sepsis in infants. It appears that there is little risk for moxalactam-associated coagulopathy in infants.