title: Effect of broad-spectrum cephalosporins on the microbial flora of recipients.
abstract: The flora in the throat and the stools of 10 patients receiving chemotherapy for malignant diseases in a laminar air-flow room was studied during the prophylactic administration of ceftazidime. Ten percent of aerobic gram-negative bacilli, 41% of aerobic gram-positive organisms, 59% of anaerobes, and 70% of fungi persisted in stool specimens during ceftazidime administration. This drug had a less pronounced effect on the throat flora; 66% of organisms persisted during antibiotic administration. The throat and fecal flora of another eight patients were studied during the prophylactic administration of ceftriaxone. This antibiotic had a profound effect on the fecal flora; none of the gram-negative bacilli, only 24% of aerobic gram-positive organisms, and only 10% of anaerobes persisted during ceftriaxone administration. Like ceftazidime, ceftriaxone had a less marked effect on the throat flora; 59% of organisms persisted during antibiotic administration. The results show that new, expanded-spectrum cephalosporins can have a major suppressive effect on patients' endogenous microbial flora.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001439:Bacteroides / Q000187:drug effects; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000517:prevention & control; D002439:Cefotaxime / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D002442:Ceftazidime; D002443:Ceftriaxone; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000187:drug effects; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000382:microbiology*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000187:drug effects; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002511:Cephalosporins; D002443:Ceftriaxone; D002442:Ceftazidime; D002439:Cefotaxime