Use of ceftazidime in severe Gram-negative infections--a preliminary study

Ceftazidime was used to treat ten patients with serious Gram-negative bacillary infections. Seven patients had bronchopulmonary infections and three had urinary tract infections. In addition three patients were bacteraemic. Causative agents were: Pseudomonas aeruginosa 4, Escherichia coli 2, Proteus species 2, and Klebsiella pneumoniae 2. Doses ranged between 2 and 6 g/day. Nine out of ten patients responded favourably to ceftazidime (cure or improvement). Colonization with ceftazidime-resistant strains occurred in three cases. No evidence of nephrotoxicity was noted.