[Clinical evaluation of imipenem/cilastatin sodium as a second line regimen in severe infections associated with hematologic disorders].
Imipenem/cilastatin sodium (IPM/CS), which has a broad spectrum of activity against both Gram-positive and -negative bacteria including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, was used as the second choice for severe infections associated with hematological disorders. Sixty-five patients were treated with IPM/CS. Among them, 53 patients were evaluable for the clinical efficacy. Twelve patients were not evaluable due to the following reasons: 5 patients were treated with combinations of other regimens such as cefzonam, cefmenoxime, ciprofloxacin or gamma-globulin, 5 were patients to whom IPM/CS was administered as the first choice, and the remaining 2 patients were thought to be suffering not from febrile infections but from febrile tumor. Excellent responses were observed in 10 (18.9%) patients and good responses in 23 (43.4%) patients, with an overall rate of efficacy of 62.3%. The efficacy in septic patients was 75% (3/4), and that in patients whose peripheral granulocytes were continuously below 100/microliter was also 75% (6/8). Two patients who suffered from tumor fever and 5 patients who had received no chemotherapy before IPM/CS administration were included in the final evaluation of side effects. Side effects were observed in 16 patients (16/60, 26.7%). In a 61 years, female patient, a skin eruption was found 4 days after IPM/CS therapy was started. In 15 patients, mild gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and vomiting were identified within a few days after IPM/CS treatment was started. Abnormal laboratory data such as eosinophilia, liver dysfunction or renal dysfunction were also identified in 4 patients (4/60, 6.7%). Degrees of these abnormalities were very slight, however, and the continuation of treatment was not disturbed. These results indicated that IPM/CS was an effective second line regimen of chemotherapy for the treatment of severe infections in patients with hematological disorders.
Tsuda
S
S
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine.
Nakai
H
H
Murakami
T
T
Seryu
S
S
Takashima
T
T
Tanaka
S
S
Nakagawa
H
H
Nishigaki
H
H
Okuda
T
T
Nishida
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015377:Cilastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077728:Cilastatin, Imipenem Drug Combination; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D015378:Imipenem / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D004338:Drug Combinations; D015377:Cilastatin; D015378:Imipenem; D000077728:Cilastatin, Imipenem Drug Combination