Clinical evaluation of ceftazidime monotherapy for infections complicated with hematological disorders]

Fifty patients with infections associated with hematological disorders were treated with ceftazidime (CAZ). Among them 44 cases were evaluable, including 21 with acute leukemia, 17 with malignant lymphoma, and 6 with other hematological disorders. Excellent responses were observed in 15 patients (34.1%) and good responses in 15 (34.1%), with an overall efficacy rate of 68.2%. The efficacy rate among sepsis and suspected sepsis cases was 67.6%. This treatment was also effective in 7 of 10 cases in which neutrophil counts were less than 500/mm3 through the course of administration. Laboratory abnormalities included mild eosinophilia in 1 case, slight elevation of GOT in 1 case and slight elevation of GPT in 1 case. These results suggest that CAZ is an effective and safe antibiotics for the treatment of infections in patients with hematological disorders.