However, ceftriaxone has the advantage of once-daily dosing, whereas the shorter half-life of cefotaxime necessitates two or three daily doses for efficacy. Changing patterns in microbial resistance suggest cefotaxime may be suffering greater resistance than ceftriaxone, whereas the two were previously considered comparable. Considering regional microbial sensitivities is also important when choosing any antimicrobial agent for the treatment of infection. Adverse reactions
Cefotaxime is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to cefotaxime or other cephalosporins. Caution should be used and risks weighed against potential benefits in patients with an allergy to penicillin, due to cross-reactivity between the classes. The most common adverse reactions experienced are:

Pain and inflammation at the site of injection/infusion (4.3%)
Rash, pruritus, or fever (2.4%)
Colitis, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting (1.4%)

Mechanism of action
Cefotaxime is a β-lactam antibiotic (which refers to the structural components of the drug molecule itself). As a class, β-lactams inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to one or more of the penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs). This inhibits the final transpeptidation step of peptidoglycan synthesis in bacterial cell walls, thus inhibiting cell wall biosynthesis. Bacteria eventually lyse due to ongoing activity of cell wall autolytic enzymes (autolysins and murein hydrolases) in the absence of cell wall assembly.
Cefotaxime is an antibiotic used to treat a number of bacterial infections in human, other animals and plant tissue culture. Specifically in human it is used to treat joint infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, meningitis, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, sepsis, gonorrhea, and cellulitis. It is given either by injection into a vein or muscle.Common side effects include nausea, allergic reactions, and inflammation at the site of injection. Another side effect may include Clostridium difficile diarrhea. It is not recommended in people who have had previous anaphylaxis to a penicillin. It is relatively safe for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. It is in the third-generation cephalosporin family of medications and works by interfering with the bacterias cell wall.Cefotaxime was discovered in 1976, and came into commercial use in 1980. It is on the World Health Organizations List of Essential Medicines. It is available as a generic medication. Medical uses
It is a broad-spectrum antibiotic with activity against numerous gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Given its broad spectrum of activity, cefotaxime is used for a variety of infections, including:

Lower respiratory tract infections – e.g. pneumonia (most commonly caused by S. pneumoniae)
Genitourinary system infections – urinary tract infections (e.g. E. coli, S. epidermidis, P. mirabilis) and cervical/urethral gonorrhea
Gynecologic infections – e.g. pelvic inflammatory disease, endometritis, and pelvic cellulitis
Sepsis – secondary to Streptococcus spp., S. aureus, E. coli, and Klebsiella spp. Intra-abdominal infections – e.g. peritonitis
Bone and joint infections – S. aureus, Streptococcus spp. CNS infections – e.g.