An open study of ceftazidime in the treatment of serious bacterial infection

Ceftazidime, a new parenteral cephalosporin, was given by intravenous bolus injection to 50 patients admitted to hospital with a variety of serious infections. These included septicaemia, bronchopulmonary, urinary, gastro-intestinal and soft tissue infections. The drug proved to be effective against a wide range of organisms, notably opportunistic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. In the 32 patients with positive cultures there was a cure rate of 85%. All Ps. aeruginosa infections were eradicated, but two relapsed post treatment in patients with recurrent urinary infections related to indwelling catheters. The drug was well tolerated and no serious side effects occurred. Two patients with salmonella septicaemia relapsed after an initial clinical response, and one of these died.