Treatment of Soft-Tissue Infection With Cephalexin

Cephalexin monohydrate, an orally administered cephalosporin C antibiotic, was evaluated in the treatment of 25 patients with soft-tissue infections of sufficient severity to warrant antibiotic therapy. All strains of Staphylococcus aureus, both penicillin-sensitive and penicillinresistant, were inhibited by 12.5μg or less of cephalexin monohydrate per milliliter. These concentrations of cephalexin were usually achieved in the serum one to two hours after a 500-mg oral dose and correlated with serum inhibitory activity against the infecting microorganism. Excellent clinical response and elimination of the pathogen were noted within seven days after initiation of therapy in all but one patient. Side effects were severe diarrhea in one patient which necessitated discontinuation of cephalexin therapy after the first day; eosinophilia in one patient; and a slight rise in the value of serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase in one patient.