title: [Cefuroxime-tobramycin treatment of bacterial infections in cancer patients].
abstract: Twenty-five patients with different metastatic tumors, and often with other diseases which may have further compromised their defenses (such as diabetes, anemia and neutropenia), had a simultaneous bacterial complication. This was regarded as documented (i.e., proved by positive culture) in 12 of 25 patients, and probable if subjective and objective symptoms, X-ray, laboratory tests and the clinical picture agreed with bacterial infection in progress, even though the culture was negative, in 13 of 25 patients. Antibiotic therapy with cefuroxime-tobramycin gave good results in 19 of 25 patients, i.e., in 10 of 12 with a documented infection and in 9 of 13 with a probable infection. Fever of unknown origin and urinary infections were the most responsive to the therapy. Three of 25 patients had nephrotoxicity, with a very small rise in BUN and creatinine, which was easily reversible. According to our experience, antibiotic therapy with cefuroxime-tobramycin would be useful in cancer patients with bacterial complications because of its effectiveness and tolerability.
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002444:Cefuroxime / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004756:Enterobacteriaceae Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000188:drug therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae; D014031:Tobramycin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002511:Cephalosporins; D002444:Cefuroxime; D014031:Tobramycin
vernacular_title: Cefuroxim-tobramicina nelle infezioni batteriche dei pazienti neoplastici.