title: Co-trimoxazole for prevention of infection in acute leukaemia.
abstract: 30 patients with acute leukaemia being treated with cytotoxic drugs were investigated in a randomised trial to determine whether oral administration of co-trimoxazole in addition to non-absorbable antibiotics would reduce the rate of infection. Three significant differences were observed between the co-trmoxazole and the control groups: (i) 15 of the 16 (94%) control patients but only 8 of the 14 (57%) patients on co-trimoxazole developed infections and required additional antibiotics intravenously; (ii) although the duration of severe neutropenia (neutrophils less than 0.1 times 10(9)/1) was similar in the two groups, control patients required intravenous antibiotics on average after  2 days of neutropenia, whereas patients receiving co-trimoxazole required these only after 12 days; and (iii) the only 2 patients who died of infection were in the control group. Prophylaxis with co-trimoxazole is important in preventing or delaying the development of infection in neutropenic patients receiving therapy for acute leukaemia.
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003091:Colistin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005601:Framycetin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000276:immunology; D009761:Nystatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012107:Research Design; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014295:Trimethoprim / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D009761:Nystatin; D005601:Framycetin; D014295:Trimethoprim; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole; D003091:Colistin