title: Ceftriaxone versus imipenem/cilastatin as empirical monotherapy for infections in cancer patients.
abstract: We conducted a prospective randomized clinical trial to compare the efficacy and tolerability of monotherapy with ceftriaxone (active ingredient of Rocephin) (CRO) versus imipenem/cilastatin (I/C) in febrile cancer patients with or without neutropenia. 120 febrile episodes were randomized and 89 (75%) were evaluable for efficacy analysis. The overall response rates to both regimens were good (86 and 79% improved in response to CRO and I/C, respectively). Overall mortality was low and similar in the two groups. Both regimens were well tolerated. Our preliminary data corroborate the efficacy of CRO or I/C as empirical monotherapy for febrile episodes in cancer patients. It will be up to future investigations to show whether one of these regimens is superior to the other.
authors.affiliation: First Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bucaneve
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Menichetti
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Minotti
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Pasticci
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tonato
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Del Favero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015377:Cilastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077728:Cilastatin, Imipenem Drug Combination; D004338:Drug Combinations / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015378:Imipenem / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D012074:Remission Induction
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D015377:Cilastatin; D015378:Imipenem; D002443:Ceftriaxone; D000077728:Cilastatin, Imipenem Drug Combination