title: Ceftizoxime plus ticarcillin: double beta-lactam therapy for infections in cancer patients.
abstract: Eighty-one febrile episodes in cancer patients with adequate neutrophil counts (greater than 1000/microliter) were treated with a double beta-lactam combination of ceftizoxime plus ticarcillin. Fifty-four episodes were microbiologically documented and 27 were clinically documented. The overall response rate was 75% (61 of 81). The response rate in 38 episodes where a single organism was identified was 71%. Polymicrobial infections were associated with a high response rate of 87%. Responses occurred in six of eight Gram-positive and 21 of 30 Gram-negative infections. Pneumonia was the most frequent infection and was associated with a response of 61%. Septicaemia and urinary tract infections also occurred commonly and had response rates of 76% and 89% respectively. All but one organism were susceptible to at least one of the antibiotics. No resistant organisms emerged during therapy. Side-effects included rash (1), phlebitis (3), and coagulation abnormalities without bleeding (3). Four patients developed superinfections (three bacterial, one fungal). The double beta-lactam combination of ceftizoxime plus ticarcillin was safe and effective therapy for infections in non-neutropenic cancer patients.
authors.forename: K V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Rolston
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fainstein
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Elting
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Bodey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002439:Cefotaxime / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015296:Ceftizoxime; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D013982:Ticarcillin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D010406:Penicillins; D015296:Ceftizoxime; D013982:Ticarcillin; D002439:Cefotaxime