title: Use of cefepime for the treatment of infections caused by extended spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli.
abstract: An investigation to determine the efficacy of cefepime in treating infections caused by extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing strains of Klebsiella pneumonia and Escherichia coli was performed. Retrospective chart reviews were conducted on patients who received cefepime and had an ESBL-producing E. coli or K. pneumoniae isolated from a clinical specimen. Among 13 patients with 15 episodes and 17 sites of infection, there were 12 episodic clinical cures, 1 clinical improvement, and 2 failures. Bacteriologic eradication of the infecting organism from the original clinical site was seen in 11 of the episodes with an additional presumed eradication. Cefepime is a potential alternative, in many cases, to the carbapenems for the treatment of infections caused by ESBL-producing bacteria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, St. Vincent's Hospital-Manhattan, New York, NY 10011, USA. vlabombardi@svcmcny.org
authors.forename: Vincent J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Labombardi
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rojtman
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tran
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077723:Cefepime; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007710:Klebsiella Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002511:Cephalosporins; D000077723:Cefepime; D001618:beta-Lactamases