title: Low-dose beta-lactam plus amikacin in febrile neutropenia: cefepime vs. piperacillin/tazobactam, a randomized trial.
abstract: Patients with fever and granulocytopenia are at risk of developing severe infection. We performed a prospective, randomized trial to evaluate the efficacy of low-dose cefepime plus amikacin (C-A) compared to low-dose piperacillin/tazobactam plus amikacin (PT-A). Patients received cefepime (2 g/12 h) plus amikacin (15 mg/kg/day) or piperacillin/tazobactam (4 g/500 mg/8 h) plus amikacin. A total of 317 episodes of febrile granulocytopenia in 190 patients were studied (152 in the C-A group, 165 in the PT-A group). A microbiologically documented infection was present in 53 (35%) episodes in the C-A group and 41 (25%) episodes in the PT-A group (p = ns); a clinically documented infection was observed in 39 (26%) and 47 (28%) episodes, respectively. Toxicity was observed in 6 (4%) episodes in the C-A group and in 5 (3%) episodes in the PT-A group. The antibiotic success rate (no change or addition of antibiotics) was recorded in 89 (59%) and 105 (64%) cases, respectively (p = ns). Mortality related to infection was similar in each arm (3.9% vs. 3.6%). Combination therapy of low-dose beta-lactam with an aminoglycoside achieves very good response rates and low rates of toxicity. It might be an attractive option in an environment of increasing resistance among gram-negative bacteria.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital Universitari Mutua de Terrassa, University of Barcelona, Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain. lgomez@mutuaterrassa.es
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Estrada
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Márquez
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Estany
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Martí
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bastús
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cirera
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Quintana
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garau
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000583:Amikacin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000077723:Cefepime; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005335:Fever of Unknown Origin / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010397:Penicillanic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D010878:Piperacillin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000077725:Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination; D011041:Poisoning; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002511:Cephalosporins; D000077725:Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination; D000077723:Cefepime; D000583:Amikacin; D010397:Penicillanic Acid; D010878:Piperacillin