ABSTRACT
384The primary goal in the treatment of infections is to provide the best possible clinical outcome for our patients while minimizing associated drug-related adverse events, including the possibility of collateral resistance developing during therapy. In order for these to occur, one must consider and evaluate a tremendous amount of data, much of it changing continually. Now, more important than ever, it is critical to select (and dose) initial empiric therapy so that it has the highest probability of eradicating the suspected pathogens for a given infection type. Because the utility of some cephalosporins has been diminished over the last decade or so, in part because of resistance to them and also owing to their adverse ecologic impact on host and institutional flora, it is important to reevaluate their strengths and weaknesses.
