Of 53 documented cases of Yersinia enterocolitica septicemia reported to the French national registry between 1985 and 1991, 43 files contained sufficient information on antibiotic treatment to be analyzed retrospectively. All patients had at least two positive cultures of blood collected before the initiation of treatment. All strains were susceptible in vitro to the antibiotics that are usually active against gram-negative rods except for older beta-lactam agents (i.e., aminopenicillins and first-generation cephalosporins). No multiresistant strain was isolated. Only four (7.5%) of the 53 patients died. Aminopenicillins, first-generation cephalosporins, and--when prescribed alone--amoxicillin/clavulanate were not effective. Third-generation cephalosporins, most often used in combination with other antibiotics, were successful in 85% of cases. Fluoroquinolones--alone or in combination--cured all of 15 infections, with patients improving rapidly and becoming apyretic within 1-4 days. These agents therefore seem to constitute the best treatment.

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