title: Combined aztreonam and gentamicin therapy for pseudomonal lower respiratory tract infections.
abstract: A multicenter, open-label study was performed to assess the efficacy and safety of aztreonam plus gentamicin in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Patients with documented P aeruginosa infections were given aztreonam 2 g every 8 hours (q8h) plus gentamicin 3 to 5 mg/kg per day in three equal doses. Clindamycin, 600 mg q8h, was added to the regimen for patients with infections also involving gram-positive and/or anaerobic bacteria. Therapy was continued for at least 5 days or until obvious failure to respond to treatment. Of 64 patients with suspected P aeruginosa infections, 57 were eligible for clinical evaluation and 51 for microbiologic evaluation. At entry, impaired host defense was present in 35% of patients, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in 28%, in addition to other predisposing conditions such as emphysema, history of tuberculosis, and pneumothorax. The clinical response rate for the combination regimen was 48/57 (84%), which included 27 (47%) cures and 21 (37%) partial responses. The microbiologic response rate was 35/51 (69%), of which 25 (49%) outcomes were classified as eradication and 10 (20%) as eradication with relapse. Superinfection was observed in 3 (6%) patients. The combination of aztreonam and gentamicin was synergistic in the initial isolates obtained from 33 (72%) patients. A total of 16 patients died of pulmonary or other underlying disease, for a mortality rate of 28%. The monobactam-aminoglycoside combination was generally well tolerated. Two other patients were withdrawn because rashes emerged on treatment. This study demonstrates that aztreonam can be administered as one component of a synergistic monobactam-aminoglycoside therapy in the treatment of nosocomial lower respiratory tract infections involving P aeruginosa.
authors.affiliation: LW Blake Memorial Hospital, Bradenton, Florida.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fasoli
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Scoggins
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Algozzine
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Spann
authors.forename: K V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Sundaresh
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Mathers
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Babb
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuppinger
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001398:Aztreonam / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002981:Clindamycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D005839:Gentamicins; D002981:Clindamycin; D001398:Aztreonam