Antibacterial and cytotoxic effect of ceftazidime-mitoxantrone association

Microbial infections are a major problem in tumor-bearing and in immunocompromised patients. In such conditions it is of paramount importance to know the possible interactions between anti-tumor and antimicrobial drugs. In the present work we investigated the relationship between Ceftazidime and Mitoxantrone. Ceftazidime and Mitoxantrone were tested alone and in combination for antibacterial activity against different strains of Gram- and Gram+ bacteria. The cytotoxic effect of combination Mitoxantrone-Ceftazidime was determined in cultured P388 leukemia cells. No interference with the antibacterial activity of Ceftazidime or with the cytotoxic activity of Mitoxantrone was observed.