Prophylaxis of bacterial infection by sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (SMX-TMP) during chemotherapy in patients with childhood acute leukemia.
A combination of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim was given orally to 13 children with acute leukemia on 16 occasions of hospitalization during remission induction chemotherapy for the prophylaxis of bacterial infection. Frequency of episodes of persistent fever in this group of patients was markedly low, namely 0.38 per one hospitalization, whereas that in control group which was given no drug was 0.98. Furthermore, frequency of episodes of definite bacterial infection in the patients given SMX-TMP was 0.25 per one hospitalization. This was significantly low as compared with control patients whose frequency was 0.84. Although, there occurred slight rash and liver dysfunction as the side effects, they were reversible. These results suggest that the prophylactic use of SMX-TMP in children with acute leukemia during chemotherapy is effective and valuable for the protection from bacterial infection.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005334:Fever / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014295:Trimethoprim / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014295:Trimethoprim; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole