[Ceftazidime in severe infections in burnt patients]

Infections being common and severe in burnt patients, their control is of paramount importance. In 49 burnt patients treated with ceftazidime 60 treatments (43 curative and 17 preventive) were prescribed. Ceftazidime was used as first-line therapy, usually combined with an aminoglycoside (amikacin as a rule). The overall success rate was 81 per cent, and only 5 cases (8.6 per cent) could be regarded as true failures. These results, comparable to those found in the literature, are discussed in detail. No significant change occurred in the bacterial population of our hospital unit during the period of the study (more than 3 years). Our experience confirms that ceftazidime should play a predominant role in the treatment of severe infections affecting burnt patients.