title: Cefepime/amikacin versus ceftazidime/amikacin as empirical therapy for febrile episodes in neutropenic patients: a comparative study. The French Cefepime Study Group.
abstract: We conducted a randomized multicenter study to compare the efficacy and safety of two antibiotic regimens (cefepime [2 g b.i.d.] plus amikacin or ceftazidime [2 g t.i.d.] plus amikacin) as first-line therapy for fever in patients with hematologic malignancies and neutropenia. A total of 353 patients were randomized according to a 2:1 (cefepime:ceftazidime) ratio. Two hundred-twelve patients in the cefepime group and 107 in the ceftazidime group (90% of all patients) were evaluable for efficacy. The polymorphonuclear neutrophil count was < 100/mm3 on enrollment for 70% of the patients. The mean duration of neutropenia was 26 days. The efficacy in both study arms was comparable, although a trend in favor of cefepime was seen in terms of therapeutic success (response rate, 27% vs. 21% for the ceftazidime group). The overall response rate after glycopeptides were added to the regimens was 60% for the cefepime group and 51% for the ceftazidime group; the bacterial eradication rates were 81% vs. 76%, respectively, and the rates of new bacterial infections were 14% vs. 18%, respectively. We conclude that the combination cefepime/amikacin is at least as effective as the reference regimen of ceftazidime/amikacin in this setting.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Hématologie Clinique, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Créteil, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cordonnier
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Herbrecht
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pico
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gardembas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Delmer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delain
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moreau
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ladeb
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nalet
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rollin
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Gres
mesh_terms: D000583:Amikacin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000175:diagnosis; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D000077723:Cefepime; D002442:Ceftazidime / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002511:Cephalosporins; D000077723:Cefepime; D000583:Amikacin; D002442:Ceftazidime