Cefotax Indications/Uses

Lower respiratory tract infections: Including pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, S. pyogenes (group A streptococci) and other streptococci (excluding enterococci [e.g. S. faecalis]), Staphylococcus aureus (penicillinase/non-penicillinase-producing), Escherichia coli, Klebsiella sp., Haemophilus influenza (including ampicillin-resistant strains), H. parainfluenzae, Proteus mirabilis, Serratia marcescens and Enterobacter sp., indole-positive Proteus and Pseudomonas sp.
Urinary tract infections: Caused by Enterococcus sp., S. epidermidis, S. aureus (penicillinase/non-penicillinase-producing), Citrobacter sp., Enterobacter species, E. coli, Klebsiella sp., P. mirabilis, P. vulgaris, P. inconstans group B, Morganella morganii, Providencia rettgeri, S. marcescens and Pseudomonas sp. Also, uncomplicated gonorrhea caused by Neisseria gonorrhea, including penicillinase-producing strains.
Gynecological infection: Including pelvic inflammatory disease, endometritis and pelvic cellulitis caused by S. epidermidis, streptococci, enterococcus, Enterobacter sp., Klebsiella sp., E. coli, P. mirabilis, Bacteroides species (including B. fragilis), Clostridium sp., anaerobic cocci (including Peptostreptococcus, Peptostreptococcus) and Fusobacterium sp. (including F. nucleatum).
Bacteremia/Septicemia: Caused by E. coli, Klebsiella sp., S. marcescens, S. aureus and streptococci.
Skin and skin structure infections: Caused by S. aureus (penicillinase/non-penicillinase-producing), S. epidermidis, S. pyogenes (group A streptococci) and other streptococci, enterococcus, Acinetobacter sp., Citrobacter sp., E. coli, Enterobacter, Klebsiella sp., P. mirabilis, M. morganii, P. rettgeri, P. vulgaris, Pseudomonas sp., S. marcescens, Bacteroides sp. and anaerobic cocci (including Peptostreptococcus, Peptococcus).
Intra-abdominal infections: Including peritonitis caused by streptococci, E. coli, Klebsiella spp., Bacteroides sp. and anaerobic cocci, including Peptostreptococcus and Peptococcus sp., P. mirabilis and Clostridium sp.
Bone or joint infection: Caused by S. aureus (penicillinase/non-penicillinase-producing), streptococci, Pseudomonas sp. and P. mirabilis.
CNS infections (e.g. Meningitis and ventriculitis): Caused by N. meningitis, H. influenzae, S. pneumoniae, K. pneumoniae, and E. coli.
Perioperative prophylaxis: This may reduce the incidence of certain postoperative infections in patients undergoing surgical procedures (e.g, abdominal or vaginal hysterectomy, GI and GU surgery) that are classified as contaminated or potentially contaminated. Effective perioperative use depends on the time of administration. For patients undergoing GI surgery, preoperative bowel preparation by mechanical cleansing, as well as with nonabsorbable antibiotic (e.g, neomycin), is recommended.