Predictors of response to therapy for infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Data from 410 courses of cefsulodin therapy for infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa were used to determine the factors that correlated with three outcomes: bacteriologic cure, clinical response, and the occurrence of adverse effects. The factors that were evaluated were site of infection, number of infected sites, prior antibiotic therapy, concurrent antibiotic therapy, maximum daily dose of cefsulodin, pretreatment status (blood pressure, white blood cell count, hemoglobin and creatinine levels, liver function tests), age, sex, and assignment to cefsulodin via randomization. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors that contributed independently to the outcome. Regression analysis indicated that three factors were significantly associated with bacteriologic cure: age, site of infection, and pretreatment hemoglobin values. Regression analysis indicated that the following four variables were significant correlates of satisfactory clinical response: site of infection, the presence of more than one infected site, diastolic blood pressure before therapy, and prior antibiotic therapy. Regression analysis also indicated that two factors, maximum daily dose of cefsulodin and duration of therapy, were the only significant predictors of the occurrence of adverse effects.