title: Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim for infections in cancer patients.
abstract: A combination of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim (Bactrim) was given orally to 35 cancer pattients with infections. Thirty-two patients did not respond to an initial antibiotic regimen that consisted primarily of carbenicillin disodium and an aminoglycoside. There were 18 single-organism, Gram-negative infections. The overall cure rate was 54%. The most common infection was pneumonia (47% responded to treatment). Eighty precent of the cases of septicemia were cured. The most common infecting organism was Klebsiella pneumoniae (45% with this infection responded). Eight cases of infection of unknown origin occurred (63% responded to treatment). Overall, 47% of the patients whose neutrophil count remained unchanged or decreased responded, while 61% of those whose neutrophil count remained unchanged or increased responded. There was no close correlation between the minimum inhibitory concentrations and the clinical responses. Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim orally is a well tolerated and effective form of antimicrobial therapy.
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014295:Trimethoprim / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014295:Trimethoprim; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole