An open study of the use of ceftazidime in Gram-negative infections

An open study of the use of ceftazidime in patients with Gram-negative infections was undertaken in a district general hospital. Ceftazidime was used in three groups of patients: 17 adults with infections due to Pseudomonas sp. or multi-resistant enterobacteria, three children with cystic fibrosis who had chest infections, and two premature neonates with severe pseudomonal pneumonia. The infections in the adult group included respiratory tract (6), urinary tract (4), wound infection (3), abdominal sepsis (2), osteomyelitis and panophthalmitis. In this group, ceftazidime was given as 1-2 g tid intravenously. In three patients, gentamicin was used concurrently and in four metronidazole was added. 76% of the adult group achieved complete clinical cure, all three cystic fibrosis cases improved markedly, and the two neonates showed complete resolution of the pneumonia. No adverse biochemical or haematological side effects occurred, although one patient developed an urticarial skin rash on the last day of a ten-day treatment course which resolved after discontinuing the ceftazidime.