title: Stability and compatibility of ceftazidime administered by continuous infusion to intensive care patients.
abstract: The stability and compatibility of ceftazidime have been examined in the context of its potential use in concentrated solutions for continuous infusion in patients suffering from severe nosocomial pneumonia and receiving other intravenous medications by the same route. Ceftazidime stability in 4 to 12% solutions was found satisfactory (<10% degradation) for 24 h if kept at a temperature of 25 degrees C (77 degrees F) maximum. Studies mimicking the simultaneous administration of ceftazidime and other drugs as done in clinics showed physical incompatibilities with vancomycin, nicardipine, midazolam, and propofol and a chemical incompatibility with N-acetylcystein. Concentrated solutions (50 mg/ml) of erythromycin or clarithromycin caused the appearance of a precipitate, whereas gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin, isepamicin, fluconazole, ketamine, sufentanil, valproic acid, furosemide, uradipil, and a standard amino acid solution were physically and chemically compatible.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Pharmacologie Cellulaire et Moléculaire, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium. Helene.Servais@facm.ucl.ac.be
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Servais
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Tulkens
mesh_terms: D002442:Ceftazidime / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003422:Critical Care; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D004344:Drug Incompatibility; D004355:Drug Stability; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008874:Midazolam / Q000494:pharmacology; D009529:Nicardipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D015742:Propofol / Q000494:pharmacology; D013696:Temperature; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002511:Cephalosporins; D014640:Vancomycin; D002442:Ceftazidime; D009529:Nicardipine; D008874:Midazolam; D015742:Propofol