[Effectiveness of ceftizoxime on various infections in patients with underlying diseases]

Ceftizoxime (CZX), a parenteral cephalosporin derivative belonging to the so-called third generation cephalosporin is reported to have a broad antibacterial activity, particularly against Gram-negative aerobic bacilli and some anaerobes, such as Bacteroides fragilis and a good stability to beta-lactamases. Clinical study was performed on a total of 20 cases, 9 females (1 case had urinary tract infection 3 times) and 11 males, aged from 27 to 82 years. All patients had the underlying diseases. They were bronchial asthma in 3 cases, influenza in 1, chronic pulmonary emphysema in 1, pulmonary fibrosis in 1, chronic bronchitis with strongyloidiasis in 1, lung cancer in 3, esophagus cancer in 2, stomach cancer in 1, hepatoma with urolithiasis in 1, liver cirrhosis with diabetes mellitus in 1, alcoholism with strongyloidiasis in 1, cholelithiasis in 1 and congestive heart failure in 1, respectively. Clinical diagnoses for infections were 2-acute bronchitis, 2-exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, 2-broncho-pneumonia, 2-pneumonia including one suspected case, 1-obstructive pneumonia, 2-secondary pulmonary infection, 1-pulmonary infection, 3-urinary tract infection (UTI), 1-UTI with sepsis, 1-sepsis, 1-sepsis with purulent meningitis, 1-biliary tract infection and 1-infected bronchoesophageal fistula. CZX was given by intravenous drip infusion, at a dose of 1 to 2 g, twice daily for 3 to 15 days. Because of severity in infections and underlying diseases, some cases were treated either steroid, gamma-globulin preparations or other antibiotics in combination with CZX. Twelve out of 15 cases assessed clinically responded satisfactorily to the treatment and efficacy rate was 80.0%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)