[Therapeutic effectiveness of ceftizoxime on severe infections associated with hematologic disorders]

One hundred patients with severe infections associated with hematologic disorders, including leukemia and lymphoma, were treated with ceftizoxime (CZX) in daily doses of 4 approximately 9 g for an average of 8.9 days. In the 84 patients who completed the trial, response was excellent in 27 (32.1%) and moderate in 25 (29.8%). The rate of effectiveness was 61.9%. The only side effect seen during the treatment was skin rash in 3 patients. Hepatic disorders were observed in 5 patients. The relation between CZX and these abnormal findings was not established. These results indicate that CZX is a therapeutically effective and safe antibiotic for the treatment of severe infections in patients with underlying hematologic disorders.