title: Selective antimicrobial modulation of the intestinal flora of patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
abstract: Thirty-three patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia were studied during remission-induction treatment in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study to ascertain the effect on the incidence of infection of an oral regimen of selective antimicrobial modulation (SAM). A decrease in the number of major acquired infections was observed: three infections occurred in 16 patients receiving the SAM regimen compared with eight infections in 17 patients given the placebo. The reduction of infection was correlated with a reduction of fever, with a reduction of the frequency of administration of antimicrobial agents for the treatment of infection, and with the selective elimination of aerobic and facultative anaerobic gram-negative rods from the digestive tract. Substantial unfavorable side effects were not observed.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000380:Agranulocytosis / Q000150:complications; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology*; D007938:Leukemia / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents