Timentin therapy for Staphylococcus aureus infections in children: results of a multicenter trial.

Multicenter trials of ticarcillin/potassium clavulanate (Timentin) for bone, joint, skin and soft tissue infections in children were performed from 1983 to 1986. Fifty children with culture-confirmed Staphylococcus aureus infections were identified. Sixteen children (ages 6.2 +/- 3.9 years) with bone and joint infections received Timentin for 8.7 +/- 2.4 days with 11 of 16 cures, 5 of 16 improved, 11 of 11 bacteriologic cures and 3.9 +/- 3.5 days of fever. Thirty-two children (ages 5.7 +/- 3.5 years) with skin and soft tissue infections received Timentin for 5.3 +/- 1.6 days with 22 of 32 cures, 10 of 32 improved, 32 of 32 bacteriologic cures and 1.4 +/- 1.3 days of fever. Three patients had S. aureus bacteremia; all were clinical and bacteriologic cures. All S. aureus isolates were susceptible to Timentin, 18 of 23 isolates tested produced beta-lactamase and 21 of 44 isolates tested were resistant to ticarcillin. The purpose of this report is to describe the clinical efficacy of Timentin in treating these types of S. aureus infections in children.