title: Comparison of cefepime and ceftazidime in combination with amikacin in the empirical treatment of high-risk patients with febrile neutropenia: a prospective, randomized, multicenter study.
abstract: A total of 208 adult patients with cancer and febrile neutropenia from 5 medical institutions were randomized to receive either cefepime (2 g b.i.d.) or ceftazidime (2 g t.i.d.) in combination with amikacin (15 mg/kg/o.d.). Ninety-seven patients in the ceftazidime (CEZ) group and 98 in the cefepime group (CEF) were evaluable for efficacy. In 68 patients (35%), infection could be documented. The average duration of antibiotic therapy was 11 and 12 d and response rates to the empirical regimen were 36 and 30% for the CEZ and CEF groups, respectively (p > 0.05). The average time of defervescence in responders was 3 d for both groups. Modification of the initial regimen with antivirals and/or azole antifungals raised the number of responders to 44% and 35%, respectively (p > 0.05). Vancomycin was additionally given to 29 patients in the CEZ group and to 27 patients in the CEF group. Twenty-six patients in each group received empirical amphotericin B. Mild, reversible study drug-related side-effects were observed in 12 patients (12%) in the CEZ group and 13 patients (13%) in the CEF group (p > 0.05). Cefepime in combination with amikacin seems to be as effective, safe and tolerable as ceftazidime + amikacin in patients with high-risk neutropenia and fever.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Hacettepe University, School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akova
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akan
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Korten
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ferhanoğlu
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Köksal
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cetinkaya
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Uzun
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Unal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000583:Amikacin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077723:Cefepime; D002442:Ceftazidime / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000628:therapy; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000628:therapy; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002511:Cephalosporins; D000077723:Cefepime; D000583:Amikacin; D002442:Ceftazidime