title: Empiric treatment of serious infections in patients with cancer: randomised comparison of two combinations.
abstract: Infection is the immediate cause of death in many patients with cancer. Traditionally, combinations of modern beta-lactam antibiotics and aminoglycosides are empirically used in the treatment of patients with neutropenia and presumed infection. However, the new quinolones appear to have become potent combination partners for beta-lactams. Eighty-seven patients with presumed serious infection were blindly randomised to receive either 2 g cefotaxime i.v. plus 200 mg ofloxacin twice daily (group 1) or 2 g cefotaxime i.v. twice daily plus tobramycin i.v. three times daily with dosage adjustment according to renal function and body weight (group 2). The response rate was significantly higher in group 1 (71%) compared to group 2 (47%). The cefotaxime/ofloxacin combination proved to be safe and represented a considerable reduction of workload on the nursing staff.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Maiche
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Teerenhovi
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D002439:Cefotaxime / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000150:complications; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014031:Tobramycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D015242:Ofloxacin; D002439:Cefotaxime; D014031:Tobramycin