title: Low-dose continuous-infusion ceftazidime monotherapy in low-risk febrile neutropenic patients.
abstract: One hundred and thirty-five cancer patients admitted with low-risk neutropenic fever received a low-dose schedule of ceftazidime as infusional monotherapy over a total of 180 episodes. Ceftazidime was administered as a 1-g bolus followed by a continuous infusion of 2 g per day. In this patient population the ceftazidime was both practical and well tolerated. Sixty-eight percent of patients responded with clinical improvement and complete resolution of fever within 48 h. Overall, 95% of patients responded, although 18% subsequently required antibiotic modification for persistent fever. Only 5% of episodes were considered failures due to clinical deterioration, and over the study period there was only 1 fatality due to respiratory failure. The median duration of hospitalisation was only 4 days (2-20). In conclusion, monotherapy with low-dose infusional ceftazidime appears safe and highly effective in this low-risk population of neutropenic patients and may reduce antibiotic costs appreciably.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology NHS Trust, Wirral, UK. erniem@ccotrust.co.uk
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: P I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Clark
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002442:Ceftazidime / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002511:Cephalosporins; D002442:Ceftazidime