title: Trough serum concentrations of beta-lactam antibiotics in cancer patients: inappropriateness of conventional schedules to pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic properties of beta-lactams.
abstract: Serum concentrations of beta-lactams that continuously exceed the minimum inhibitory concentration may improve therapeutic outcomes for immunosuppressed patients. The trough serum levels of ceftazidime (CAZ), cefepime (FEP) or imipenem (IMP) were prospectively determined on days 1 and 3 of treatment in cancer patients. Seventy-eight episodes of suspected infection were analysed. Trough serum levels were higher than 4 mg/L in 62%, 24% and 0% of cases in the CAZ, FEP and IMP groups, respectively, and were higher than 20 mg/L in 24% of cases in the CAZ group compared with 0% both in the FEP and IMP groups. For suspected infectious episodes in cancer patients, the traditional intermittent regimen of beta-lactams does not appear to be appropriate for the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic properties of these antibiotics.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire des Thérapeutiques Cliniques et Expérimentales des Infections, UPRES EA-3826, UER de Médecine, 1 rue Gaston Veil, 44035 Nantes Cedex 01, France.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Navas
authors.forename: Jocelyne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Caillon
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Batard
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Le Conte
authors.forename: Marie-France
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Kergueris
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moreau
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Potel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D000077723:Cefepime; D002442:Ceftazidime / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015378:Imipenem / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D047090:beta-Lactams / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002511:Cephalosporins; D047090:beta-Lactams; D015378:Imipenem; D000077723:Cefepime; D002442:Ceftazidime