title: Aztreonam-flucloxacillin double beta-lactam treatment as empirical therapy of serious infections in very elderly patients.
abstract: Aztreonam, the first monocyclic beta-lactam antibiotic with pure anti-Gram-negative activity, combined with flucloxacillin, a penicillinase resistant penicillin, was given as empirical treatment of 53 serious infections in very elderly people. Eighteen of the cases had positive blood cultures and 11 had a clinical picture of sepsis without positive blood cultures: Of 49 evaluable infections, 45 (92%) were cured. In 40% of the infections, antibiotic treatment could be narrowed after 72 hours to one antibiotic. Diarrhoea, mostly transitory, was the only side-effect. Aztreonam-flucloxacillin combination is a safe and effective empirical treatment regimen for serious infections in very elderly patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Knockaert
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dejaeger
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nestor
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Verbist
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pelemans
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001398:Aztreonam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005436:Floxacillin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D005436:Floxacillin; D001398:Aztreonam