Ceftizoxime plus ticarcillin: double beta-lactam therapy for infections in cancer patients

Eighty-one febrile episodes in cancer patients with adequate neutrophil counts (greater than 1000/microliter) were treated with a double beta-lactam combination of ceftizoxime plus ticarcillin. Fifty-four episodes were microbiologically documented and 27 were clinically documented. The overall response rate was 75% (61 of 81). The response rate in 38 episodes where a single organism was identified was 71%. Polymicrobial infections were associated with a high response rate of 87%. Responses occurred in six of eight Gram-positive and 21 of 30 Gram-negative infections. Pneumonia was the most frequent infection and was associated with a response of 61%. Septicaemia and urinary tract infections also occurred commonly and had response rates of 76% and 89% respectively. All but one organism were susceptible to at least one of the antibiotics. No resistant organisms emerged during therapy. Side-effects included rash (1), phlebitis (3), and coagulation abnormalities without bleeding (3). Four patients developed superinfections (three bacterial, one fungal). The double beta-lactam combination of ceftizoxime plus ticarcillin was safe and effective therapy for infections in non-neutropenic cancer patients.